Paris Olympics- Heartbreak for Vinesh Phogat Disqualified Before Final
Sport
6 min read
In a heartbreak for women's wrestler Vinesh Phogat and India, she has been disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was to compete in the final of the women’s 50 kg category on 7 August 2024. Phogat was disqualified for being overweight in her category. Although she usually competes in the 53 kg category, she competed in the 50 kg event at the Paris Olympics.
Before her disqualification, Vinesh was the first Indian women wrestler to reach the final of the Olympics. Before her, Sakshi Malik is the only Indian women's wrestler to have won a medal -bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Under which rule Vinesh was disqualified?
At the 33rd Summer Olympics being held in Paris, France, each weight category wrestling event is held on two competition days. On the morning of each competition day, the wrestlers are weighed.
Vinesh Phogat was eligible for competition on the first day of the competition. However, when she was weighed on the morning of the final (7 August 2024), she was overweight by 100 grams.
According to wrestling rules, if a wrestler fails the weigh-in on either day of the competition, they are eliminated from the event.
Vinesh's Performance in the Paris Olympics
Three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat won her opening round against Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan. In the quarterfinals, she defeated former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine. In the semi-final, she defeated reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba.
Vinesh was to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA in the final on 7 August 2024. Now, the American Sarah Hildebrandt will face Yusneylis Guzman for the gold medal.
Vinesh in Olympics
Vinesh Phogat is an illustrious female wrestler from Haryana. She has won medals in almost all competitions except the Olympics. She is the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold medals at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
However, she has yet to win a medal in the Olympics.
She participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 48 kg category. She won her opening match, but due to injury, she had to leave her quarterfinal match against the Chinese Sun Yanan.
She competed in the 53 kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the quarterfinals, she lost to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus.
Wrestling Medals for India in Olympics
India has won seven medals -2 silvers and 5 bronze-in the Olympics before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The first individual medal in the Olympics for India after Independence was won by KD Jadhav in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He won a bronze medal.
India has never won a gold medal in the wrestling event in the Olympics.
Sakshi Malik is the only female wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India. Sushil Kumar has won two medals in wrestling.
|
Serial Number |
Wrestler |
Category |
Medal |
Olympics |
|
1 |
K D Jadhav |
Men’s bantamweight (57kg) freestyle |
Bronze |
1952 Helsinki Olympics |
|
2 |
Sushil Kumar |
Men’s freestyle 66kg |
Bronze |
2008 Beijing Olympics |
|
3 |
Sushil Kumar |
Men’s freestyle 66kg |
Silver |
2012 London Olympics |
|
4 |
Yogeshwar Dutt |
Men’s freestyle 60 kg |
Bronze |
2012 London Olympics |
|
5 |
Sakshi Malik |
Women’s freestyle 58 kg |
Bronze |
2016 Rio Olympics |
|
6 |
Ravi Kumar Dahiya |
Men’s freestyle 57 kg |
Silver |
2020 Tokyo Olympics |
|
7 |
Bajrang Punia |
Men's freestyle 65 kg |
Bronze |
2020 Tokyo Olympics |
