Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the ongoing Paris Olympics after failing to make weight. As a result, she will lose her medal. Phogat was set to face USA’s Sarah Hilderbrandt in the final of 50 kg freestyle wrestling but she was 100 grams above the permissible weight on the day of the event.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Phogat had stunned Japan’s Yui Susaki in the pre-quarters. Susaki had a 82-0 record in International wrestling but Phogat was able to turn the tables in the last 10 seconds to register a 3-2 win.
Subsequently, the 29-year-old wrestler from Haryana defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach by 7-5 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal bout, she bested Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzmán by 5-0 to confirm her medal. But on Wednesday morning, she was disqualified by the authorities.
It has been reported that Phogat and her entire team worked for the whole night to lose two kilograms of weight but they could make the cut-off in the end.
The IOA, in its statement, said: “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: Indian Olympic Association.”
There will be one gold medal and two bronzes issued in the 50kg division. Phogat, on the other hand, will finish last in the event.
