Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat who was set to compete in the gold medal match of the Women's Wrestling 50kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was disqualified this morning.
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Phogat, who had secured at least a silver medal, potentially the first silver for India at the ongoing games, was supposed to return back home with no medal to her name.
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Why was Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Olympics 2024 as she failed to meet the weight requirements on the morning of her wrestling 50kg freestyle gold medal match.
According to a statement from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the reason for Phogat's disqualification was that she weighed a few grams more than what was required to compete at the 50kg freestyle event.
"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," the IOA statement said.
The news came as a heartbreak for the wrestler and the country as she entered the tournament and reached the finals of the event against all odds.
Phogat beat world number 1 and the gold medalist of the Tokyo 2020 games, Yui Sasaki of Japan to start her tournament, followed by a 5-0 semi-final victory against Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinals.
She was set to compete in the Final of the Women's Freestyle 50kg gold medal match against USA's Ann Sarah Hildebrandt, which had guaranteed her at least a silver medal.
Vinesh Phogat appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport against Olympic disqualification
Late-night reports emerged that the Indian contingent, along with Vinesgh Phogat officially placed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her disqualification.
The CAS will now produce an interim verdict on August 8 and if it goes in the wrestler's favour, Phogat could be handed the silver medal.
MORE: India at Paris 2024 Olympics: Medal winners and standings
