Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Olympics' final round. 'Massive heartbreak for India,' says internet

Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from Paris Olympics

Hours after Vinesh Phogat defied huge odds to assure herself of a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by reaching the final in the women’s 50kg wrestling event, she was disqualified from the final round over a weight issue. Phogat was found 100 grams overweight at the weigh-in on Wednesday morning, the International Olympic Committee announced.

As per the rules, the  29-year-old will not be eligible even for a silver medal, and only bronze and gold medals will be presented in Women's Freestyle 50kg Wrestling. USA's Sarah Hildebrandt, who was Vinesh Phogat's opponent in the final, will automatically receive the gold medal.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement confirming the development. "It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class," it stated. "Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand."

The news set social media ablaze even as users were celebrating Phogat's win following a sexual harassment row earlier this year when she and other wrestlers alleged that the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had sexually harassed women wrestlers for many years. They demanded his arrest.

Several users on X questioned whether the disqualification was fair to an Olympics finalist while others questioned Phogat's coach and support staff who were responsible for watching her weight.

BREAKING: Vinesh Phogat disqualified from the Olympics final, as she was found 100 grams overweight at the weigh-in this morning, announces IOA.

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ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL HEARTBREAK. THIS GOLD WAS HERS. pic.twitter.com/RIh699HBgk

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) August 7, 2024

Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified and out of the #Olympics

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For being 100 gm overweight in the 50 kg weight category..

Is this fair to a finalist?

The 2024 Olympics are the height of dishonesty and the height of meanness #Vinesh_Phogat https://t.co/QnPhCwHyxu

— Sonali (@RaiSonali17) August 7, 2024

Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified! The wrestler was found to be 100gm overweight.
Whose fault it is?
What was coach and support staff doing?
Just 100 gms!!!
Answers must come out. #VineshPhogat
#wrestling #Paris2024 #Olympics #vineshphogat

— Shadab Ahmed (@ShadabPost) August 7, 2024

Phogat had become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final in wrestling. Sakshi Malik, the only other woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India, had clinched a bronze medal at Rio 2016.