Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a tale of triumph marred by tragedy. Despite facing criticism and doubts, Vinesh Phogat achieved an extraordinary victory by defeating world No. 1 and reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. However, her historic achievement was overshadowed by a heartbreaking disqualification on the morning of her gold medal match due to being just 100 grams overweight.
The disqualification not only ended her dreams of competing for gold but also deprived her of the opportunity to secure a silver medal. In the aftermath, Vinesh Phogat appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be awarded a joint silver medal in the Women’s 50kg event. Unfortunately, CAS dismissed her appeal, though the detailed reasoning behind their decision is expected to be released later this month.
The intense weight-cutting process that led to Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification was revealed by her coach, Woller Akos, in a now-deleted Facebook post. Akos detailed the grueling five-and-a-half-hour session that left him fearing for Vinesh Phogat’s life. “After the semi-final, 2.7 kg of excess weight remained,” Akos wrote. Despite their best efforts, including hours of cardio, wrestling drills, and time in the sauna, the weight loss stalled, leading to severe dehydration.
On the morning of what was supposed to be her final bout, Vinesh Phogat was hospitalized due to her condition. Akos recalled a conversation they had afterward, where Vinesh Phogat , despite the setback, found solace in her victory over Susaki. “Medals and podiums are just symbols; the performance is what truly matters,” Vinesh Phogat told her coach.
Akos also reflected on Vinesh Phogat’s earlier plea to her fellow wrestlers, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, not to discard their Olympic medals. Even as she faced disqualification, Vinesh Phogat remained proud of her accomplishment, proving that she belonged among the best in the world. Akos expressed pride in their training program, which enabled Vinesh Phogat to achieve this remarkable feat. Despite the tragic end to her Olympic journey, Vinesh Phogat’s performance remains a testament to her resilience and determination.
