Vinesh Phogat's impressive run at the Paris Olympics sadly comes to an end with her getting disqualified for being 100 gms overweight in the 50 freestyle kg category. Phogat, who had lost about half a year of training due to the wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had managed to squeeze in some quality preparation and had even dropped to the 50 kg category for the Olympics. Being a woman with a high muscle mass and a usual weight of 56 kg, it wasn't reportedly easy for her. She was also struck by Covid-19 for a brief period. However, Vinesh didn't let anything affect her training. She decided to participate in two weight categories at the Olympic trials, which also stirred up controversies. Regardless, she went on to win the 50 kg bout qualifiers even after taking part in protests in the morning.
From 59 to 50 kgs at the Olympics
Vinesh underwent a ligament tear surgery in August last year and during that time, her weight shot up to 59 kgs, as per reports. However, being determined to win the Olympic quota of 50 kgs, she decided to work towards it and reduced her food and water intake considerably. Doctors apparently advised against it, as this would generally lead to weakness and injuries. However, Vinesh was determined to take risks to compete in the 50 kg category and win a medal.
Once in Paris, as luck would have it, she was pitted against Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki who had never lost a bout in her international career and is a four-time world Olympic champion. But Vinesh, drawing from her struggles off the mat and using a perfect game plan, stunned the reigning Olympic champion in one of wrestling's biggest upsets. Having tackled her toughest opponent in the competition, the Indian then beat eighth seed Oksana Livach of Ukraine to secure a berth in the semi-finals of the women's 50kg freestyle event. In her moment of triumph, after everything she had faced, she lay on the mat, tears of joy rolling down her face. But the job was not complete. In the semifinals, Vinesh got the better of Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to secure a medal and become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics. However, that additional 100 gms marred the dreams of the whole country from winning a gold medal at wrestling at this year's Olympics.
(With PTI inputs)
