Picture Credit: X
Hours after Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from her gold medal match in the women’s 50kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to get the weigh-in mark, it is being reported that the Indian athlete fainted and has been taken to a hospital. However, an official update is still awaited on Phogat’s health, but reports reveal that she was left unconscious.
It is to be noted that Phogat was dehydrated and did everything possible to come to her weight, including jogging, cycling after her semi-final bout against the Cuban. But according to the recent development, the Indian athlete fainted due to excessive dehydration and landed in the hospital after being disqualified after weighing 100 grams overweight.
Moreover, Phogat is currently in the polyclinic of the Olympics Village, where she is stable. A few media sources have also claimed that Vinesh’s coaches and support staff did everything possible, including cutting her hair and trying to draw out blood, but failed to achieve the desired result. According to the UWW rules, “If an athlete does not attend or fails the weigh-in, he/she will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last without rank.”
PM Narendra Modi speaks to IOA President PT Usha; urges to explore available options
While Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final after defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0, assuring a medal for the country, she also became the first athlete to be disqualified from her final for not making weight. After her disqualification, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X (formerly Twitter) to console the wrestler.
“Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you,” he wrote.
Furthermore, it is being said that the Indian PM has also spoken to Indian Olympic Association President, PT Usha and has urged her to get firsthand information on the issue and explore the options available to India following this massive setback.
