Vinesh Phogat disqualified: Will Vinesh Phogat get a medal even after being disqualified?

Vinesh Phogat will lose out on a deserving medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 after being disqualified as the Indian wrestler was overweight ahead of her final bout in the women's 50kg final. The 29-year-old earlier made history after becoming the first female wrestler from India to qualify for a final in the history of the quadrennial event, but fortunes did not favor her.

On Wednesday (August 7), it was learned that Vinesh was 100 grams over the permissible weight needed to take part in the final of her event in Paris. Vinesh will be replaced by Yusneylys Guzman of Cuba who will face Sarah Hildebrandt in the gold-medal match. It was Guzman who Vinesh beat in the semi-final and secured a medal for India.

Vinesh was having a dream run until she agonizingly fell short. She began her campaign by beating Tokyo champion Yui Susaki in the Round of 16. Vinesh’s victory was memorable because Susaki had an 82-0 record at the international level in her career.

Thereafter, Vinesh got the better of Ukraine’s Oksana Livach without having to break a sweat. In the semis, the Indian wrestler dominated. After the latest development, Sakshi Malik remains the only woman to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

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Vinesh Phogat’s tough luck in Olympics continues

Vinesh started her career in the Olympics back in 2016 in Rio. But her maiden campaign ended in tears. In the last-eight bout, she sustained a knee injury after which she was carried off on a stretcher. Thereafter, she underwent surgery to recover.

In Tokyo three years ago, Vinesh was one of the favorites to win as she was the top seed in her category. But she slumped to a defeat and crashed out. When it seemed that she should keep past disappointments aside and win a medal in Paris, Lady Luck shut her eyes on her.