"Whole nation is with you";"Too much politics at Olympics" - Fans left in disbelief after Vinesh Phogat gets disqualified for being 100gm overweight

India wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who made it to the final of the 50kg freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics and was set to face USA's Sarah Hildebrandt in the match, was disqualified on the day of her gold medal match. The IOC confirmed that Phogat couldn't make the weight criteria which allows the athletes to compete in the discipline.

She was 100 grams overweight, something which does not go by the rules of the sport. Moreover, as per the rulebook, she won't be able to bring back any medal from the Paris Olympics and will return empty-handed. Only the gold and bronze medals will be awarded to the wrestlers. The Indian Olympic Association gave out a statement on X:

"It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat 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. 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."

Fans took to social media to express their opinion on the decision. They were unhappy and showcased dismay, especially since Vinesh Phogat emerged as the first Indian woman wrestler to make it to an Olympics final.

One user wrote on X:

"This is too much politics at Olympics. Our Girls get disqualified after winning medal ,just for 100 Gram higher weight, that to one day later."

Another user said:

"Vinesh Phogat disqualified from the Olympics final because she is overweight by 100 grams. Biggest heartbreak of 2024 Olympics for India."

One fan claimed:

"Wrestling ain't a serious sport mahn, imagine getting disqualified after literally bossing your way into the final just coz you're 100 grams fatter than the opposition."

One user highlighted how cruel it is for Phogat, writing:

"This is terrible and cruel. You prepare for this day for the whole life and you got disqualified because you were few grams more than 50 kg. This is sad beyond words. Whole nation is with you Vinesh. You are a champion."

Another user wrote:

"This is worst way to get disqualified. She’s overweight and will be ranked last. Everything is null and void for the victory she’s earned. This is beyond just heart breaking."

One fan account wrote:

"It's truly disappointing to hear about Vinesh Phogat's disqualification due to a minor weight issue. While it's important to respect her privacy and the team's focus on the remaining competitions, it’s equally crucial to acknowledge the broader implications of such situations. The rigorous weight management in wrestling highlights the immense pressure athletes face, and a small oversight can have significant consequences. Hopefully, this serves as a reminder of the need for more robust support systems to help athletes manage these challenges."

Another account's post read:

"She came so far and lost to 100gm ?? This is so painful."

One more fan shared his thoughts on the Indian athletes' fate in the ongoing Olympics. He wrote:

"This whole Olympics, it feels like the decisions have been deliberately made against India, be it that hockey red card, boxing and now this."

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Vinesh Phogat tried her best!

As per Indian Express, Phogat was approximately two kilograms overweight on Tuesday night and didn't sleep, taking all the necessary measures to cut down the extra weight - jogging, skipping, and cycling. However, she still fell 100 grams short of the criteria. She has previously struggled in the 50kg discipline, during the Olympic qualifiers where she made the cut with a narrow margin.