BREAKING: Vinesh Phogat Disqualified Before Her Paris Olympics 2024 Gold Medal Match
In a shocking development on Wednesday (August 7) afternoon, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat may well be disqualified before her Paris Olympics 2024 gold medal match against Sara Ann Hildebrandt. According to media reports coming from Paris, Vinesh has been found overweight by approximately 100 grams over the permissable limits of the competition.
According to wrestling competition rules at the Olympics, Vinesh Phogat will not be eligible even for a silver medal and the 50 kg will have just gold and bronze medal winners. India’s Chef de Mission Gagan Narang is expected to make a statement to make an official statement soon.
She had made the weight for Tuesday’s bouts but as per rule, wrestlers have to stay within their weight category on both days of the competition. Vinesh will now be placed last in the competition as she has been disqualified.
“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand,” the IOA statement read.
According to Indian Express newspaper, the wrestler was approximately 2 kilos overweight on Tuesday night. “She didn’t sleep the whole night and did everything in her capacity to meet the criteria – from jogging to skipping and cycling. However, it didn’t prove to be enough. Sources said the Indian delegation pleaded for some more time to give her a chance to shed the last 100 grams, but their pleas fell on deaf ears,” the Indian Express report said.
(More to come)