Vinesh Phogat disqualified: PM asks India's Olympic body to lodge strong protest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to lodge a strong protest with the organisers of the Paris Olympics after wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified ahead of her gold medal match. The Prime Minister spoke with IOA chairperson PT Usha and asked her to explore options to help Phogat's case, sources said.

In a post on X, PM Modi called Phogat, the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final, a "champion among champions" and asked the wrestler to come back stronger.

"You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you," PM Modi said.

Phogat, who was to compete for a gold medal on Wednesday in the women's 50kg final against USA's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, was disqualified by the event organisers as she was found to be 150 gms overweight.

As per the rules, any grappler found overweight at the time of weigh-in ends up at the bottom of the final standings.

Sources said there is no recourse available for the Indian contingent to appeal this decision. In all likelihood, Phogat will return home without a medal despite trailblazing performances in the lead up to the final match.

Phogat, who took down Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to seal her spot in the final of the women's 50 kg freestyle, was hospitalised on Wednesday after she fainted due to dehydration, sources said. She was later brought to the polyclinic at the Olympic village.

Last year, Phogat was the face of protests against ex-BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan after several wrestlers accused him of sexual harassment and intimidation.

Source: India Today