Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s most promising wrestlers, has announced her retirement from the sport following a devastating turn of events at the Paris Olympics 2024. The announcement came after a series of unfortunate incidents that unfolded during the final stages of the Olympic wrestling competition.
On the morning of her 50 kg gold medal bout, Phogat was found to be 100 grams overweight, leading to her immediate disqualification from the competition. This shocking development came as a surprise to many, given Phogat’s previous success in managing her weight throughout the tournament.
Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic contingent, provided insight into the situation. He revealed that Phogat had actually exceeded the weight limit by a staggering 2.7 kg after her semi-final bout. The medical team made desperate attempts to help her reduce weight by implementing strict measures, including:
Despite these efforts, Phogat was unable to meet the required weight limit in time for the final weigh-in.
Prior to the disqualification, Phogat had been on a remarkable run in the tournament. She secured her place in the gold medal bout by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez with a convincing score of 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
Phogat was originally set to face Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States in what promised to be an epic showdown for the gold medal. However, the weight management issue derailed these plans, leading to a dramatic change in the final lineup.
Following her disqualification on Wednesday, Phogat took swift action by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This move underscores the significance of the CAS as the apex body responsible for addressing legal challenges faced by athletes in international competitions.
According to an IOA (Indian Olympic Association) source, Phogat’s appeal to the CAS included a specific request:
The wrestling community and fans around the world anxiously await the CAS verdict, which is expected to be announced on Thursday morning.
The disqualification of Phogat led to a significant reshuffling of the final match:
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