In a surprising turn of events, Vinesh Phogat, who made history as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, was disqualified for being 100 grams over the weight limit in the 50 kg category.
This disqualification occurred just one day after she secured at least a silver medal for India by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the freestyle semi-finals.
Despite staying up all night and attempting every possible method to shed the extra weight, Phogat was unable to lose the additional grams in time for the final weigh-in. This disqualification not only prevented her from competing for gold but also stripped her of the silver medal, leaving the category with only gold and bronze medalists.
Hema Malini: Important To Keep The Weight In Check
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, veteran actor and politician Hema Malini expressed her disbelief to a leading news agency, “It is very surprising and bada ajeeb sa bhi lagta hain ki 100 gm ki wajah se woh disqualify ho gayi. Kitna mehatwa hain apna weight aur wazan ko theek se rakhna! Hum sab ko isse ek achha seekh milna chahiye sab kalakaro ko, mahilayon ko sabko… ki 100 gm also matters a lot! We feel very sad for her.”
She added, “I wish she loses that 100 grams quickly lekin milega nahi abhi (It is very surprising, and it feels strange that she was disqualified for being 100 gm overweight. It is important to keep the weight in check. It is a lesson for all of us. I wish she loses that 100 gm quickly but she would not get an opportunity).”
BJP MP Hema Malini mocking Vinesh Phogat for her disqualification in Olympics final.#vineshphogat
— phews (@phcubes) August 7, 2024
PM Modi Extends Support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also voiced his support, tweeting, “Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! 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.”
He added, “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.”
Vinesh’s disqualification has left fans and fellow athletes devastated, but many are confident that she will rebound from this setback with renewed strength, continuing to inspire millions with her determination and resilience.
