In a moment that shattered the hearts of over a billion Indians, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from her gold medal bout for being overweight by just 100 grams. Phogat had already made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the finals, only to be disqualified due to a weight discrepancy before the final match.
The rules mandate that wrestlers weigh in twice: once on the morning of the preliminary rounds and again on the morning of the final. Vinesh successfully met the 50kg weight limit during the first weigh-in on Tuesday morning. However, after competing in three bouts and replenishing herself throughout the day, her weight likely increased. Reports indicate that she needed to shed approximately 2kg overnight to meet the final weigh-in requirements. Witnesses observed Vinesh skipping in a sweat suit after her semifinal bout, attempting to lose the excess weight throughout the night. Despite her efforts, she was 100 grams over the weight limit during the morning weigh-in.
This episode underscores the harsh reality of sports, where triumph and disaster are often separated by the smallest margins. Prakash Padukone, the legendary badminton coach, stirred controversy by stating that federations and the government cannot always be blamed and emphasized the need for players to introspect and ensure they are putting in maximum effort. “The players need to ask themselves whether they are working hard enough because all of these players have their own physios and all the facilities. I don’t think any other country, including the US, has so many facilities,” Padukone remarked. His candid observations highlight a culture that often celebrates near misses rather than aiming for definitive victories.
Phogat’s disqualification highlights an Olympics marked by near podium finishes and raises crucial questions about preparation, commitment, and the fine line between victory and defeat.
