How Vinesh Phogat not disqualifying could have caused USA to finish 2nd in the medal tally
The United States of America won the most medals and finished at the top of the table. China and Japan followed in second and third place, respectively. Both the USA and China won the same number of gold medals: 40. However, the USA secured more silver and bronze medals, giving them the overall edge over China.
In total, the USA won 126 medals: 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. On the other hand, China won a total of 91 medals, including 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze. Notably, if Vinesh Phogat hadn't been disqualified from the women's 50 kg freestyle wrestling event's final, the USA could have possibly ended up in second place and China in first.
But how? Well, Vinesh Phogat was supposed to take on the USA's Sarah Hildebrandt in the women's 50 kg freestyle wrestling final. Phogat's disqualification due to being overweight allowed Hildebrandt to win the gold medal uncontested.
Vinesh defeated Tokyo Games' gold medalist Yui Susaki in her build-up to the final. Notably, Susaki was undefeated in 94 matches against foreign wrestlers.
Hence, there were high chances that Vinesh Phogat could have overcome Sarah Hildebrandt, thereby paving the way for China to end first with 40 golds compared to the USA's 39.
Vinesh Phogat and her disqualification
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the finals after she weighed 100 grams more than the permissible limit. She then went on to appeal her case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting a shared silver medal, which will now release its decision on the matter on August 13.
Phogat received widespread support from the Indian fanbase as well as from former and current athletes. She has also announced her retirement from the sport, despite being just 29.
India won six medals at the Paris Olympics, with only one being a silver (Neeraj Chopra). If the CAS' decision goes in favor of Phogat, India would match their medal tally with the Tokyo Olympics (seven) and win two silver medals to sign off from the quadrennial event.