NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended in disappointment after she was disqualified from the gold medal match due to a weight discrepancy.
Phogat, who had secured her place in the final by defeating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals, was scheduled to face Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold. However, she was found to have exceeded the weight limit for her category, leading to her disqualification.
Following the disqualification, Phogat appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be awarded the silver medal. The outcome of this appeal is pending.
In the wake of this event, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling via a post on social media platform X. She expressed her emotional turmoil, stating, "Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness."
Nita Ambani, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, publicly acknowledged Phogat's contribution to Indian sports.
Speaking at an event, Ambani praised Phogat's fighting spirit and resilience, referring to her as a "true fighter and a winner" who has inspired the nation.
"I would now like to salute a young girl who's not present here today. But her spirit has inspired the entire nation. She is a true fighter and a winner, not just in the ring but in life. A very brave daughter of our soil and a champion of champions," she said, as quoted by ANI.
Phogat's disqualification and subsequent retirement mark a significant moment in Indian wrestling. Her absence from the sport leaves a void, particularly given her status as a medal hopeful in Indian sports.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less