Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced a heartbreaking disqualification from the women’s 50 kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics 2024 due to a weight issue. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) reported that Phogat was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during the official weigh-in on Wednesday morning, leading to her disqualification from the final match.
NO! NO! NO!
Please make this a bad dream that I will wake up from and find it isn’t true… https://t.co/T5BLQCkLVI
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 7, 2024
The news of Phogat’s disqualification sent shockwaves through the sports community and among her supporters. Industrialist Anand Mahindra voiced his disbelief on X (formerly Twitter), expressing a wish that the disqualification was just a bad dream. “NO! NO! NO! Please make this a bad dream that I will wake up from and find it isn’t true,” Mahindra tweeted.
Entrepreneur Vishal Dayama added a more lighthearted comment, suggesting that the extra weight was due to “that invincible medal she has been wearing all this time.” As a result of the disqualification, the hashtag “100 gm” trended on X, reflecting the widespread reaction from fans and supporters.
Despite the setback, many took to social media to show their support for Vinesh Phogat. One user declared, “For us Indians, you’ve already won gold Vinesh,” highlighting the widespread admiration for her achievements.
Phogat, 29, had made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout. Her journey to the final was particularly poignant, given her role as a prominent figure in the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faces allegations of sexual harassment.
The disqualification means that Vinesh Phogat will end her Olympic campaign without a medal, as international regulations dictate that any wrestler found overweight at the time of weigh-in is placed at the bottom of the final standings. This outcome comes as a significant disappointment, given the high expectations surrounding her performance.
