Haryana khaps to award gold medal to Vinesh Phogat: Reports
Haryana Khap panchayats have decided to award Vinesh Phogat with a gold medal as she arrived home from the Paris Olympics. She suffered a heartbreaking disqualification before the final.
Vinesh was found 100 grams overweight on the morning of the gold medal bout, and was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite her support staff trying different ways to cut down her weight, it wasn’t possible for them to avoid the disqualification.
According to the Indian Express, the Sangwan Khap president and independent MLA Sombir Sangwan stated that they will award a gold medal similar to what athletes get at the Games, weighing around 50 or 100 grams.
"We will make a medal with gold like the one given to gold medallists in the Olympics. It may weigh 50 grams or 100 grams," said Sombir Sangwan.
“Vinesh Phogat has won the hearts of crore of people” - Sombir Sangwan
Independent MLA Sombir further emphasized there was a conspiracy involved in the wrestler’s disqualification and stated the whole scenario intolerable.
The report further stated that the Khap leaders from Haryana and other adjoining states in the north will be a part of the felicitation ceremony, in which the gold medal will be awarded to the ace wrestler.
"The way in which the wrestler was disqualified from the competition on the pretext of being 100 grams overweight is intolerable," Sombir told the Indian Express. "There is no doubt that a conspiracy was hatched against her but she has won the hearts of crores of people after winning three matches in the Olympics. That's why every Indian is giving her more honour than a gold medal winner."
It’s worth noting that Vinesh Phogat made two appeals in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) right after her disqualification. The first appeal was to be a part of the final bout, while the other one was to be awarded with the joint silver medal.
Though her first appeal was rejected right away, her second appeal was considered for discussion. However, a few days later, CAS rejected her plea, putting a full stop to her medal-winning dream.