The morning of August 7th, 2024, was supposed to be the culmination of a lifetime’s dream for Vinesh Phogat. The small, determined woman from Balali, Haryana, was hours away from etching her name in the annals of Indian sporting history. A gold medal at the Paris Olympics would have been more than a personal triumph; it would have sparked a beacon of hope for millions of young Indian girls.
Yet, fate had a cruel twist in store. The scales told a story of heartbreak. A mere 100 grams – a weight less than a small coin – stood between Vinesh and her destiny. Disqualification. The word echoed through the Olympic arena, carrying with it the weight of a nation’s shattered hopes.
A weight too heavy to bear
For Vinesh, the world crumbled in that moment. Years of gruelling training, of sacrificing family, friends, and personal life, evaporated into thin air. The physical toll of weight cutting, a common practice among athletes, had pushed her to the brink, and in the end, it proved to be her undoing.
Back home in Balali, the news hit like a tidal wave of despair. The village was suddenly engulfed in shock and grief. Fans, sports enthusiasts, and a heartbroken nation felt the crushing weight of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification.
The weight cut is a brutal aspect of wrestling, a game of inches where every gram counts. Vinesh, like many athletes, had pushed her body to its limits. Dehydration, muscle loss, and sleep deprivation are common side effects. In her case, it was the final, cruel blow.
The aftermath was a maelstrom of emotions. There was anger, disbelief, and a deep sense of injustice. But there was also an outpouring of support. Messages of encouragement flooded social media. The nation stood by her, recognizing the immense courage it took to step onto the mat, let alone the mental fortitude to face such a devastating setback.
The weight of disqualification crushed Vinesh Phogat, leading to a heart-wrenching decision to retire from the sport she loved. In a poignant social media post, she expressed her deep sorrow and the shattering of her dreams. Her retirement marked the end of an era, leaving a void in Indian wrestling.
Athletes are not cold, calculating machines programmed for victory. They are complex individuals, carrying the hopes and dreams of millions while battling their own demons. Vinesh’s fall, a heart-wrenching spectacle, is a stark reminder of their vulnerability. Yet, in her resilience, we find a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a poignant X post, aptly described Vinesh as a “champion among champions.” Recognising her historic feat as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, he urged her to rise again, stronger than before.
Hailing from the legendary Phogat wrestling dynasty, Vinesh carried the weight of expectation. Her cousins, Geeta and Babita, were pioneers, but Vinesh was poised to redefine the narrative. Yet, fate dealt a cruel blow.
The fall of a champion
The abrupt disqualification was a seismic shock, exposing the fragility beneath the athlete’s armour. A mere 100 grams, a seemingly insignificant weight, became a symbol of a larger issue: the brutal toll of weight cutting. Critics lambasted the practice, highlighting its perilous consequences for athletes’ health. Vinesh’s ordeal brought this dark underbelly of sports into sharp focus.
The disqualification decision was met with a storm of criticism. Many argued it was hasty, ignoring the athlete’s well-being. Questions about the accuracy of the weighing process and potential procedural lapses further fueled the controversy.
Vinesh and the Indian Olympic Committee challenged the verdict, appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, the legal battle yielded no reprieve. The failed appeal cast a long shadow over the fairness and efficacy of the sports justice system.
Vinesh is a distinguished Commonwealth Games gold medallist, having triumphed in 2014, 2018, and 2022. She made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games, securing her place in the annals of sports history with her 2018 Asian Games victory. Additionally, she has earned two bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships.
A three-time Olympian, Vinesh has competed in three different weight classes: 48 kg in 2016, 53 kg in 2020, and 50 kg in 2024. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, she achieved a landmark victory by becoming the first international wrestler to defeat the reigning Olympic champion, Yui Susaki. This remarkable feat led her to become the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final.
Vinesh Phogat’s journey is of heights of human triumph and the depths of its despair. Her story, a reminder of the fragility of athletic dreams brings up a national conversation about the pressures athletes face and the imperative for fair and humane treatment. Can a system that breaks its champions truly claim to be a champion of sport?