Wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned to India on August 17, 2024, after a tough experience at the Paris Olympics, where she was disqualified for being overweight in the 50kg category final. Phogat, who usually competes in the 53kg category, had dropped to 50kg for the Olympics. Unfortunately, she was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during her second weigh-in, leading to her disqualification.
The disqualification was a huge blow, as Vinesh had made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final in an Olympic wrestling event. Her disqualification meant she lost the chance to secure a gold or silver medal for India, leaving the nation in shock.
Upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Vinesh was visibly emotional, along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda was also present. Despite the heavy security, the disappointment was clear on their faces.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had appealed Vinesh’s disqualification, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the appeal on August 7, 2024. IOA President PT Usha expressed her disappointment, calling the decision “shocking.”
Read More : The Leading Countries of the Paris 2024 Olympics: A Medal Tally Overview
