Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from entering the finals on Wednesday at the Paris Olympics 2024 after her semi-final win against Cuban wrestler Guzman.
Champ-de-Mars Arena Mat B at the Paris Olympics was painted in glory on Tuesday with the eccentric aura of an Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat who gave people a moment for the history books. The country is basking in the glory of a woman whose answer to the injustice done to her was winning the semi-finals in a sport that brought her both pride and hurt. Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was close to becoming the first woman wrestler to enter the Olympic finals after beating her opponent in a historic match but unfortunately she failed by a fraction.
As part of the women's freestyle 50kg wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024, Vinesh defeated the Cuban wrestler Yusneylys Guzman with a 5-0 score in the semi-finals. Guzman is currently ranked 12th in women's 50kg world rankings and has fought Phogat at the Grand Prix of Spain where she was defeated 3-1. Phogat’s recent win against Guzman has opened a flood of celebration from people online, with them praising her stubbornness to make it through the semis.
In a recent turn of unfortunate events, she has been disqualified from making it to the finals because she failed to meet the weight requirement and lost her entry due to a mere 100 gms. The rules require the wrestlers to maintain their weight within the designated category throughout the entire competition. And since she failed to do so, she won’t be eligible even for silver; the competition will only have gold and bronze medals.
Regardless, people found her win a satisfying response to all the criticism she had to previously endure. Last year, Vinesh protested along with fellow wrestlers and rallied on the streets against the then Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who was accused of sexual harassing women wrestlers. The wrestler also had her share of heartbreak with the Olympics when she was made to quit after suffering from a knee injury during the Rio Olympics 2016. After making her cut in Tokyo Olympics 2021, she unfortunately was defeated failing to make it to the quarter-final. She had announced a break from wrestling right after her exit from Tokyo Olympics making her appearance in Paris Olympics something to look forward to.
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Ever since the competition, people have been sharing their support for Vinesh on the internet!
After severe dehydration, following her attempt to meet the weight requirement for the bout, she was taken to the polyclinic at the Games Village. As a desperate measure to make it through, she decided to stay hungry, avoid fluids, and also sweat it out all night. However, Phogat was unsuccessful in making the cut. Sadly, the day after her disqualification, Vinesh took to X to share the news of her retirement from wrestling. She wrote, "I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024."
At a time when female athletes have to fight their way through being constantly questioned and criticized while lacking a space that is safe enough for them to enjoy their sport, wrestlers like Vinesh shine as a beacon of hope. She stands as a testament to her never-dying spirit reminding us of the many strong women that show us how it's done!
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