Tag: Vinesh Phogat

  • No strength; Vinesh Phogat retires after Olympic disqualification

    No strength; Vinesh Phogat retires after Olympic disqualification

    Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement on Thursday, just one day after being disqualified from the gold medal match in the 50 kg women’s category at the Paris Olympics 2024.

    The 29-year-old, the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final, was just one match away from winning gold. Unfortunately, she was disqualified when the weigh-in revealed she was 100 grams over the weight limit.

    In her retirement announcement on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Mother, wrestling defeated me. I lost. Forgive me; your dream and my courage have been shattered. I don’t have the strength to continue. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”

    Phogat won her semi-final match 5-0 against Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez. However, Lopez was later promoted to the final and won a silver medal. Sarah Hildebrandt from the US, who was supposed to face the Indian wrestler but ended up against the Cuban, won the gold medal with a 3-0 score.

    Vinesh has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to award her a joint silver medal. The decision is expected today.

    She has competed in three different weight categories across three Olympics: the 48 kg category in Rio 2016, the 53 kg category in Tokyo 2020, and the 50 kg category in 2024. She has also won gold medals in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Commonwealth Games in a different weight category.

  • Indian female wrestler disqualified from Olympics after reaching finals

    Indian female wrestler disqualified from Olympics after reaching finals

    Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling finals at the Paris Olympics 2024 despite qualifying for the finals. During the weigh-in, she was 100 grams over the limit.

    The 29-year-old experienced athlete was having an incredible run after facing bullying on the streets of Delhi for months. She defeated Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba and was on track to win gold at the Paris Olympics. She even reassured her supporters with a heartfelt, “I will bring gold” promise during a video call.

    However, everything fell apart when she was found ineligible to compete on the final day. Despite her team’s best efforts throughout Tuesday night, Phogat didn’t meet the weight requirement during Wednesday’s weigh-in. The unfortunate event has ended India’s hopes of winning a gold medal in the women’s 50kg category.

    The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement saying they apologise for the disqualification.

    “It is regrettable that the Indian contingent shares news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the team’s best efforts 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 that you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand.”

    In January 2024, Several female athletes returned their medals to the Indian government to protest against sexual harassment, but the police charged them and arrested several people. She left two valuable awards on the roadside after she wasn’t allowed to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Indian women athletes return medals to govt in protest against sexual harassment

    Indian women athletes return medals to govt in protest against sexual harassment

    A number of female athletes, including female wrestlers, have returned their medals to the Indian government in protest against sexual harassment.

    India’s famous female wrestler Vinesh Phogat left two valuable awards on the roadside after not being allowed to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Phogat and several other female wrestlers have accused former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing female wrestlers for years. Vinesh Phogat won medals in the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.

    Photo: Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan

    A large number of athletes, including female wrestlers, also protested, but they were lathi-charged by the police and several people were arrested.