Paris 2024 Olympics: Did Vinesh Phogat win gold medal in women's 50kg category?

In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was poised to compete for gold in the Women's Wrestling 50kg category, returned without a medal. This unforeseen outcome came after Phogat was disqualified for being overweight ahead of her final match.

Vinesh Phogat had created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. She secured her place in the final by defeating some of the top contenders in her category, including the world number 1, Yui Susaki of Japan, and wrestlers from Ukraine and Cuba. Her impressive performance throughout the tournament had raised hopes for a gold medal for India.

Phogat was all set to face Sarah Hildebrandt, a familiar opponent she had previously defeated, in the gold medal match. However, in a shocking reversal of fortunes, Phogat was disqualified from the competition due to a weight issue. Therefore, she couldn't contest in the final and unfortunately missed out on the chance to win a gold medal.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement confirming her disqualification on Wednesday, August 07.

"It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the women's Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning," the IOA stated.

The weight issue arose during the second weigh-in on the day of the final. Despite the team's best efforts to manage her weight, Phogat was found to be a few grams over the 50kg limit. The minor discrepancy led to her disqualification from the tournament, stripping her of the opportunity to compete in the gold medal match.

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Vinesh Phogat announces retirement

Following this grueling experience, along with the disappointment of her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling. The 2024 Paris Olympics was expected to be a pinnacle in her wrestling career, but the unexpected turn of events led her to decide to step away from the sport.

Phogat took to X (formerly Twitter to announce the same. The post, in Hindi, read, "Mother, wrestling won against me, I lost. Forgive me as your dreams and my strength are broken. I do not have any more strength left in me. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness."

Vinesh's announcement marks the end of an illustrious career. She has achieved significant milestones and brought glory to Indian wrestling.