Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic Journey Takes a Shocking Turn

In a dramatic turn of events, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics after weighing in slightly over the required limit. This came just hours after she had secured a spot in the final, ensuring at least a silver medal for her remarkable efforts.

Bajrang Punia, a fellow wrestler and a prominent voice in the wrestling community, expressed his deep disappointment over the situation. He stated that a victory for Vinesh would have been a significant moment, especially in light of her previous protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, who faced serious allegations of misconduct.

Reminiscing about the protests that took place last year at Jantar Mantar, Punia criticized the government’s silence at the time. He described how the wrestlers were unfairly categorized and marginalized while they fought for their rights. “Now that Vinesh is on such a prestigious platform, how will they claim her as one of their own?” he asked.

As Vinesh’s disqualification news broke, Karan Bhushan Singh, the son of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and a Member of Parliament, remarked that her disqualification is a loss for the country. He mentioned that the Federation would look into the matter, highlighting the concerns surrounding this unfortunate outcome.

After the disqualification, the Indian Olympic Association shared the news with regret, confirming that Vinesh had weighed in a few grams over the limit. They appealed for privacy for Vinesh during this tough time as the team continued focusing on the ongoing competitions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to PT Usha, the President of the Indian Olympic Association, seeking details on Vinesh’s situation and options to support her. Modi took to social media, stating that Vinesh is a source of pride for the nation and expressing his sorrow over the setback she faced.