"It is a moment of great pride for us" - PM Modi on Vinesh Phogat becoming first Indian to reach wrestling final at Olympics
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the final of the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics last week. She gained more than two kilograms of weight the night before the final.
Vinesh took every measure possible - not eating, sleeping, drinking water, cycling, skipping, jogging and even a sauna treatment. But couldn't get rid of 100 grams of extra weight on the morning of the competition.
Phogat had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for a shared silver medal. She was supposed to take on USA's Sarah Hildebrandt in the gold medal bout, who ultimately went on to win the final. Soon after that horrifying day, she decided to announce her retirement.
However, today, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke up on Vinesh Phogat, saying that the wrestler reaching the final is a moment of pride for the nation. He said (via PTI on X):
"Vinesh became the first Indian to reach the wrestling finals. It is a moment of great pride for us."
The CAS ultimately dismissed her plea for a shared medal, keeping India away from that seventh medal at the Paris Games.
Vinesh Phogat could have won India's seventh medal
India ended their Paris Olympics campaign with just six medals, one less than the Tokyo Games. Last time, the nation had won a gold medal when Neeraj Chopra scripted history in the men's javelin throw.
But this time India failed to secure a gold medal. Five bronzes and one silver was all that they could bag and Phogat was the only hope for a gold medal.
She had previously ousted her would-be opponent Sarah Hildebrandt and was being considered a favorite for the final. She had defeated heavyweight Lui Susaki (Tokyo gold medalist) in the initial stages of the competition.
With every passing game, Phogat was looking unstoppable. Maybe she could have won the final too if she passed the weight test on the morning of the game.
The medal winners for India from the Paris Games are - Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh (mixed team with Bhaker), Swapnil Kusale, Indian hockey team, Aman Sehrawat, and Neeraj Chopra.