'I understand your pain, same 50g': Japanese Olympic Champion Higuchi empathises with Vinesh Phogat

NEW DELHI: Japanese Olympic gold medalist Rei Higuchi expressed his empathy towards Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler who faced disqualification from her final bout at the Paris Games due to weighing 100 grams above the allowed limit. Higuchi deeply understands the anguish of such a situation, having personally experienced a similar fate.
Three years prior, during the qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics, Higuchi found himself eliminated from the competition for a mere 50-gram excess in weight.The consequences were severe, as he also lost a subsequent playoff bout, ultimately denying him the opportunity to compete in his home Olympics, despite being considered a top contender at the time.
"I understand your pain the best. Same 50g. Don't worry about the voices around you. Life goes on. Rising from setbacks is the most beautiful thing. Take a good rest," Higuchi, who defeated India's Aman Sehrawat in the 57kg freestyle category semifinals en route his gold, wrote on X while commenting on Vinesh's retirement announcement.

Before claiming gold in Paris, Higuchi had earned a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games.
"I have passed through a setback and despair, but I managed to succeed by believing myself. Still, I don't think I could've won the gold medal with my efforts alone," Higuchi was quoted as saying by 'Japan News' as he looked back at the Tokyo debacle for which he blamed his fondness for junk food at that time, PTI reported.
Vinesh, 29, has submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ad-hoc division, challenging her disqualification. The decision is expected to be announced later this evening, following the conclusion of the hearing on Friday.
The disqualification occurred due to Vinesh being 100gm overweight during the weigh-in prior to her gold medal match against Sara Ann Hildebrandt from the United States.
As a result of the disqualification, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez from Cuba, who Vinesh had defeated in the semifinals on Tuesday, took her place in the final.
In her appeal, Vinesh has requested that she be awarded a joint silver medal alongside Lopez, arguing that she was within the allowed weight limit during her matches on Tuesday.
During the CAS hearing, Vinesh was represented by prominent senior advocates Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania.