What PM Narendra Modi Said On Vinesh Phogat’s. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised wrestler Vinesh Phogat for her remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics, where she made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final. During a meeting with the Indian athletes and medal winners from the Paris Olympics at his residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, on Independence Day, the Prime Minister expressed his admiration. While addressing the Indian contingent, PM Modi emphasized Vinesh’s significant accomplishment, stating, “Vinesh became the first Indian woman to reach the finals in wrestling, which is a matter of great pride for all of us.”
Despite this historic achievement.
Vinesh’s Olympic journey took a heartbreaking turn. She was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics after being found just 100 grams over the weight limit on the morning of the final match. This disqualification shattered her dream of winning an Olympic medal, a goal she had worked tirelessly towards.
The disqualification was a significant blow to Vinesh, who has had an illustrious wrestling career. She is a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has won two bronze medals at the World Championships, and clinched a gold medal at the Asian Games. Additionally, she was crowned Asian champion in 2021, making her one of India’s most decorated wrestlers.
In the wake of her disqualification, Vinesh took to social media to announce her retirement from wrestling, marking an emotional end to her Olympic journey. She also appealed against her disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), seeking a joint silver medal in the 50 kg weight category. However, the Ad-Hoc Division of the CAS dismissed her petition, leaving her Olympic dreams unfulfilled.
The Paris Olympics saw a total of 117 Indian athletes competing across 16 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, wrestling, table tennis, and tennis. India managed to secure six medals at the Games—one silver and five bronze. Despite high expectations, the country fell just short of surpassing its performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where India won seven medals (one gold, two silver, and four bronze), finishing 48th in the overall medal tally.
Prime Minister Modi’s recognition of Vinesh Phogat’s efforts, despite the setback, underscores the importance of perseverance and resilience in sports. Her journey, though ending in disappointment, remains a source of inspiration for many young athletes in India. As the nation continues to strive for greater success on the global stage, Vinesh’s legacy as a trailblazer in Indian wrestling will undoubtedly endure.
‘Vinesh Phogat Might Die’: Reveals Shocking Behind-The-Scenes Details
Vinesh Phogat was found overweight ahead of her 50kg freestyle final on August 7 and was disqualified from her gold medal bout. Vinesh went through rigorous training to cut her weight after her semifinal bout but could not cut the last 100 grams needed for her participation.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat and her team put in an extraordinary effort to manage the unexpected weight gain she experienced on the first day of her campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh had made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final and was on the brink of etching her name into the annals of sports history. the fate had other plans, as she was disqualified from her gold medal match after being found overweight on the day of the final.
After her semifinal bout, Vinesh and her coach, Woller Akos, worked tirelessly to shed the excess weight. Having already endured three intense bouts, Vinesh’s body was struggling to recover and adjust. Despite their relentless efforts, she was unable to meet the weight requirement. Akos later shared the intense behind-the-scenes struggle that Vinesh went through, a process so grueling that he feared it might have put her life at risk.
“After the semifinal, she still had 2.7 kg of excess weight,” Akos revealed. “We exercised for an hour and twenty minutes, but 1.5 kg still remained. Later, after 50 minutes in the sauna, not a drop of sweat appeared on her.”
With no other options, Vinesh continued to push her body to the limit. From midnight until 5:30 in the morning, she worked out on various cardio machines and practiced wrestling moves, taking only brief two- to three-minute breaks. She collapsed from exhaustion multiple times, yet somehow found the strength to continue. “She spent an hour in the sauna,” Akos wrote in a social media post that he later took down. “I don’t want to sound dramatic, but at that moment, I truly feared she might die.”
Despite being shattered by her disqualification, Vinesh showed remarkable grace and resilience. Akos recalled a conversation they had on the way back from the hospital that night. “Vinesh told me, ‘Coach, don’t be sad. You always told me that if I find myself in a difficult situation and need extra energy, I should remember that I beat the best woman wrestler in the world (Japan’s Yui Susaki).’”
Vinesh went on to say, “I achieved my goal. I proved that I am one of the best in the world. We showed that our game plans work. Medals and podiums are just objects; my performance cannot be taken away.”
Akos also recounted how Vinesh had pleaded with her fellow wrestlers, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, not to immerse their hard-earned Olympic medals in the Ganga River. Vinesh recognized the significance of those medals and begged them to keep them because of what they represented. However, Sakshi and Bajrang explained to her that their journey and performances meant more to them than the physical medals.
Reflecting on the experience, Akos expressed pride in their accomplishments. “We will always be proud of the fact that our professional program enabled us to beat the best woman wrestler in the world and brought an Indian woman wrestler to the Olympic final for the first time in history.”
Despite the heartbreaking outcome, Vinesh Phogat’s journey at the Paris Olympics remains a testament to her incredible determination and skill. Her story is not just about the medals she could have won, but about the spirit of a champion who gave everything she had, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
‘Vinesh Deserved Atleast A Silver…Injustice to Us’: National Wrestling Coach Virendra Dahiya on CAS’ Verdict on Vinesh Phogat
The nation was left heartbroken when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced their decision regarding Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s case, denying her a silver medal from the Paris Olympics. For many, this news felt like a devastating blow.
Vinesh Phogat had appealed for a silver medal after being disqualified from the Women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite her impressive performance, which included three strong wins—one against Japan’s Yui Susaki, a top wrestler—Vinesh was barred from competing in the gold medal match against Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States because she was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during the morning weigh-in.
Shocked by this unexpected turn of events, Vinesh appealed to the CAS, requesting that she be awarded a joint silver medal along with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to Vinesh but was moved to the final after the disqualification. However, the CAS dismissed her plea.
National wrestling coach Virendra Dahiya expressed deep disappointment over the decision, stating that India lost not just a silver medal but also a potential historic gold.
