Wrestling Olympic super star decided to renounce wrestling .Unfortunately she was disqualified from 50 Kg freestyle wrestling final at 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight .It came as a rude and big shock to the lovers of wrestling especially to the fans of wrestler Vinesh Phogat .In a heartbreaking turn of events for India at the 2024,Paris Olympics ,wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced disqualification from the 50kg freestyle wrestling category for exceeding the weight limit by just few grams ,moments after securing her spot in the gold medal bout .Phogat had earlier a monumental victory by defeating World No 1 and Tokyo2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan ,propelling her into the quarterfinals .There she overcame Ukraine’s Oksana Livach with a 7-5 win to advance to the semi-finals .In the semi-finals ,she triumphed over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopz ,not only guaranteeing herself a medal but also making history as the first Indian women wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics .It is very sad ,unfortunate and disturbing that Phogat was under pressure to renounce wrestling and her disqualification from playing final in Olympic wrestling is condemned by Indians of all hues .She was however disqualified for being above the stipulated weight during the weigh –in on the morning of finals on Wednesday and therefore became ineligible for the medals .After her disqualification ,she announced her retirement from wrestling sport with immediate effect .Phogat was nominated for the Laures World Sports Awards in 2019 and was the first Indian to get a nomination for the award .

In 2023,she was part of the 2023 Indian wrestlers protest against then president of the Indian Wrestling Federation and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ,who was accused of sexual harassment by several female wrestlers and Phogat was in the headlines for the protest for the harassment by BJP MP.As a result he was denied ticket to contest Lok sabha polls .Vinesh Phogat born 25th August 1994 is a former Indian professional freestyle wrestler .She is a multiple Commonwealth Games gold medalist ,having won gold’s at the 2014,2018,and 2022 Games. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after she won the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games .She has also won two bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships .So her disqualification to fight the final at Paris Olympic Wrestling Championship and consequently her retirement from the sport is a big shock to the lovers of wrestling .She should not have been disqualified for negligible overweight and it should have been ignored given Fogat’s excellent and shining record at wrestling .It is a tragic end to Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic dreams .An entire nations hopes were crushed under the weight of 100 grams .For her 50kg category fight ,she was barely 100 gram overweight ,leading to her automatic disqualification on perhaps the biggest day of her sporting career .
In January 2023,Vinesh along with more than 30 Indian wrestlers that included Sakshi Malik ,Bajrang Punia and Anshu Malik ,organized a protest demanding the dissolution of WFI and action against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ,after it was alleged that its coaches had been harassing female players sexually for years .The protests were dropped after the Indian government pledged to form an oversight committee to look into the claims .In April 2023,the wrestlers returned to protests ,claiming that the government did not honor its commitments .During the protests ,Vinesh said that she informed the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur about the mental harassment ,torture and threats to her life after she accused and reported Bhushan .On December 2023,the Sports Ministry suspended the newly elected WFI body led by Sanjay Singh citing the disregard for established policies and procedures .The Wrestling Federation of India –WFI president Sanjay Singh on Wednesday demanded action against the support staff attached with Vinesh Phogat in the wake of her shock exit from the Paris Olympics ,saying the blunder of not maintaining her weight before the final was not acceptable .
The Indian contingent woke up to the rude jolt of Vinesh’s disqualification ,hours before her gold medal bout against American Sarah Hildebrandt .Cuban wrestler Guman Lopez Yusnelis ,who had lost her semifinal to Vinesh ,will know clash in the gold medal match against Hildebrandt .P.T .Usha provides update on Vinesh’s health following her disqualification .Usha said Phogat is physically and medically fine .Vinesh has been training with Woller Akos ,her personal coach from Belgium and has worked with south African mental conditioning coach Wayne Lombard .Sanjay Singh told PTI ,’’It is not a fault of Vinesh .She was performing amazingly .The coaches ,the support staff ,the physios and the nutritionists should take full responsibility .
’’Vinesh was on the top of her game when she trumped unbeaten Yui Susaki ,employing a strategy of playing a waiting game and executing a match –winning move in dying moments of the match .Sitting in Vinesh’s corner ,Akos was seen crying when she sealed her sport in the final .The WFI President said the federation will allow only UWW certified coaches to train the Indian wrestlers ,going forward .’’The entire WFI committee will decide how to move forward with this matter .’’Singh said .Sanjay Sing said he is holding a meeting with Indian Olympic s Association –IOA President P.T.Usha and they will approach UWW chief Nenad Lalovic to see if anything can be done .’’I spoke to the IOA and the UWW and I even sent letters ,asking them to look into the matter and allow her to compete ,’’he further said .Tokyo Games bronze wrestler Bajrang Punia on Tuesday –August 6,2024 described fellow grappler vinesh Phogat as ‘’lioness of India’’ after she entered her maiden Olympic semifinals after notching up stunning victories in Paris.The 29 –year –old Vinesh stunned defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan and higher –ranked Ukrainian Oksana Livach to cruise to women’s 50 kg semifinals on Tuesday .’’Vinesh Phogat is thev lioness of India who won back to back matches today .Defeated 4-time World Champion and defending Olympic champion .After that she defeated the former World Champion in the quarterfinals ,’’Punia wrote on his X handle .
Indian Olympic Association –IOA President PT Usha expressed her shock and disappointment over Phogat’s disqualification .She confirmed that while Phogat is physically fit and mentally fine ,she is disappointed .Usha noted that the support staff is actively working to help Phogat manage her weight .Usha further said our staff is with her ,trying their best to help her reduce weight. .Remember Vinesh Phogat has quit wrestling day after she was disqualified ahead of her 50kg wrestling match for being overweight .In a post on X ,Vinesh announced ,’’Kushti merese jeet gayi,main haar gayi…isse zyada taaqat nahi hai ab…’’’’Mother wrestling won ,I lost ,your dream ,my courage is all broken ,I don’t have any more strength than this .Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.I will always be indebted to you all ,sorry ,’’she wrote .Sports should be above politics. But politics has commenced on this matter .
The Congress said that Phogat didn’t fail in the wrestling match but became a victim of ‘’sports politics .In a shot in arm to Vinesh Fhogat ,the Court of Arbitration For Sport –CAS Ad hoc division in Paris has registered an application filed by Indian Wrestler Vinash Phogat ,seeking a joint silver medal in the sub-50kg category ,from which she was disqualified before the final round for being 100 grams overweight..The hearing on the plea is in progress and the decision will come anytime now . .’’In short 140 crore citizens of India ,who were celebrating yesterday ,are upset today .It is hoped that Vinesh will reconsider her decision of renouncing wrestling and embrace the sport again and manage her wait .She will not disappoint the wrestling fans anymore.

Email:---------------------------onkoul2019@gmail.com