The inspiring Olympic journey of Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler renowned for her role in anti-sexual harassment protests, took a heartbreaking turn as she was disqualified from the gold medal match in the women’s 50kg freestyle category.
Phogat, the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final, was disqualified after failing to meet the weight requirement, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced.
“Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning,” the IOA said in a statement on X.
According to competition rules, wrestlers must remain within their weight category on both days of the tournament. Phogat’s disqualification means only the gold and bronze medals will be awarded in her event.
United World Wrestling, the sport’s international governing body, has yet to comment on the situation, Reuters reported.
Phogat’s journey to the Olympics was a story of hope and perseverance. Just over a year ago, she was sleeping on the streets of New Delhi, protesting against sexual harassment in sports. Her determination had set her on a path to potentially winning either a gold or silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
A three-time Olympian from a prominent wrestling family, Phogat was set to face Team USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the final. Her journey included one of the Games’ most stunning upsets when she defeated reigning Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki in a dramatic first-round match. Susaki, considered the best pound-for-pound freestyle wrestler in the world, had never lost a fight at the senior level and dominated her way to gold in Tokyo without dropping a point.
Phogat’s 3-2 victory over Susaki was followed by wins against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach (7-5) and Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (5-0), securing her place in the final and a spot on the medal podium.
In response to her disqualification, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Phogat a “champion among champions” and “India’s pride” in a post on X.
“Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomize resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on,” Modi wrote, encouraging her to “come back stronger.”
Phogat’s fellow wrestlers praised her journey as both a personal and collective triumph for India’s wrestling community, who have long struggled with their voices being heard by authorities.
“Vinesh Phogat is the lioness of India who won back-to-back matches today,” Bajrang Punia, Tokyo bronze medalist and leading figure in the protests, wrote on X. “This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. This girl was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country.”
Despite this setback, Phogat’s resilience and determination continue to inspire, highlighting the ongoing struggles and triumphs within India’s sports community.
