Hyderabad: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s dream of winning an Olympic medal was crushed on Wednesday as she was disqualified from the Paris Games for being overweight. The wrestler weighed 100 grams more than the eligibility criteria during her weigh-in and thus, she suffered disqualification. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come out in support of the wrestler and encouraged her to come back stronger in the future.
Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2024
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…
"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. 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 uploaded on his 'X' handle.
According to the sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked for first-hand information from the International Olympic Association (IOA) regarding the whole issue and the options India has to resolve the issue. He has asked Usha to explore the full range of options to solve the case. Also, he has requested PT Usha to file a protest if that helps the case for the Indian wrestler.
After Vinesh's disqualification, many celebrities expressed themselves on social media. Abhinav Bindra stated that he is extremely gutted.
Completely gutted . Sometimes u dont need a gold medal to be a true champion to people….
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 7, 2024
Vinesh had a dream run in the Paris Olympics as he beat the Japanese wrestler Susaki Yui in her very first match. Vinesh became the first wrestler to outplay her as Susaki didn't lose any international game before the bout between the two. Considering her form, it looked like Vinesh would earn a medal but her stellar run came to an unfortunate end as she was disqualified for being overweight at the time of the weight-in.
More to follow...
