Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here. You can find the entire program of the games here.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat received an extremely harsh decision to his stunning Olympic career.
On Wednesday, she was scheduled to fight for Olympic gold in the women’s 50-kilogram freestyle for the U.S. Sarah Hildebrandt against.
It was the other way around. On Wednesday morning, Phogat did not pass the weigh-in, which is why he will miss out on a medal.
For example The Times of India reported, that Phogat fainted after the weigh-in. He had to be taken to the hospital due to dehydration. Judging by everything, the wrestler had stretched his body to the limit in order to make it to the finals.
“A few grams”
The incident was explained by the Paris Olympics on official websites. They call the rejection of an Indian “heartbreaking”.
At the Olympics, the weigh-in for each weight class is held on the morning of the competition day. Also on the second day of competition, the athletes are weighed, i.e. those who participate in the collection rounds or finals.
Finland, for example, spoke about it Arvi Savolainen on Tuesday, after he had lost his own match. At that point, Savolainen did not yet know if his wrestling would continue in the collection rounds the next day.
– Some kind of doping test should be given here now, but if this has to be put on the scales tomorrow, how will it be successful in the meantime. So I can’t really refuel and then without refueling, nothing will necessarily come out. We’ll see, Savolainen said.
The Indian Olympic Committee regretted the dishonor of its protege.
– It is unfortunate that the Indian team has to share the news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification. Despite the team’s best efforts overnight, he was a few grams over 50kg this morning.
– The team will not comment further at this stage. Team India requests that Vinesh’s privacy be respected and wants to focus on the matches at hand.
Phogat has previously won, among other things, two World Championship bronze medals in the 53-kilogram category and three gold medals from the Commonwealth Games.
On Tuesday, he cleared the weigh-in and beat the #1 ranked, defending Olympic champion in the opening round Yui Sus too. It is one of the biggest surprises in Olympic wrestling. The Japanese who won gold in Tokyo had never lost in his adult career.
In the semifinals, Phogat defeated the European champion, the Ukrainian Oksana Livachin and the Cuban in the semifinals by Yusneylis Guzman.
Violent backgrounds
For example CNN is calling the Indian wrestler’s Olympic story as a demonstration of “hope and perseverance”, which, however, turned into great “heartbreak” with rejection.
In India, Phogat and his fellow wrestlers last year became the public face of a protest movement that has made global headlines and sparked a heated #MeToo debate in the country.
Just over a year ago, Phogat slept on the streets of New Delhi as part of an athlete-led protest against allegations of sexual harassment in his sport. For months, Phogat and many other wrestlers protested against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.
In early 2023, Phogat and other leading wrestlers wrote to the Indian Olympic Committee demanding investigations of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Singh, who served as the president of the wrestling association, is also a leading figure in the Indian People’s Party.
According to Phogat, Singh “harassed and tortured her mentally” after she missed out on a medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The wrestlers stopped sleeping on the street and their protest when India’s sports ministry announced it would investigate the matter.
However, when nothing happened, Phogat and other wrestlers took to the streets again, camping out for weeks in protests. They became a flashpoint for criticism against the Indian regime and ended in a clash with the police.
– A serious injustice has occurred. We have dedicated our lives to our country, Phogat told CNN last year.
Many wrestling stars threatened to throw their Olympic medals into the Ganges.
– The medals that adorn our necks no longer mean anything. What’s the point of life if you have to compromise your dignity?
Dramatic footage from May 2023 showed Phogat, his sister, being dragged off the street by police By Sangeeta Phogat and in 2016, having won Olympic bronze in the 58 kg category Sakshi Malik’s. They were later released.
Singh is no longer in charge of the Wrestling Federation of India. Eventually, the police started an investigation against him.
Among other things The Hindu and The Times of India reported in May 2024 that Singh and another former boss of the Wrestling Federation of India, Vinod Tomari charges have been filed against.
According to the charges, Singh abused his position as president of the wrestling association to control the victims and used threats about their career prospects as a means of intimidation. Singh is accused of using his position of power for sexual abuse and harassment over several years.
“The charges show that the crimes were not random, but part of an ongoing series of events, suggesting a premeditated strategy to attack vulnerable victims repeatedly over a period of years. The course of action is consistent, i.e. abuse of power to bully subordinates, the New Delhi court said.
– Why would I plead guilty when I’m not guilty, Singh himself commented.
After the Olympic discus wrestling news, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi called Phogat “a champion among champions” and “the pride of India”.
– Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the feeling of despair I experienced. At the same time, I know you represent perseverance. Your nature has always been to accept challenges. Come back stronger! We all support you, the Prime Minister wrote in X.
– This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. This girl was dragged to the streets in her own country. This girl is going to conquer the world, but she lost to the system of this country, commented earlier Bajrang Puniawho won Olympic bronze in Tokyo and was also one of the leading figures in last year’s protests.