“It’s part of the game,” Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat told Indian coaches on Wednesday after being thrown out of the Paris Olympics for being 100 grams more than the permissible limit in the women’s 50 kg category. Women’s national coaches Virendra Dahiya and Manjeet Rani met the wrestler. Vinesh created a stir on Tuesday by defeating world number one and defending champion Yui Susaki in the preliminary round. While the entire nation was preparing to celebrate Vinesh’s medal win, she was disqualified because her weight was 100 grams more during the second weigh-in. He was certain to get at least a silver medal.
‘We missed out on winning a medal but…’
Sharing details of his meeting, Dahiya said, “This news created a stir in the wrestling team. The girls were very sad after the news came. We met Vinesh and tried to console her. She is courageous. He told us, ‘It’s unfortunate that we missed out on winning a medal, but that’s part of the game’,” he said. “Many IOA officials were also present there to meet him.” Indian wrestling during the day Another bad news came for Panghal when she lost in the first round in the women’s 53kg due to technical superiority. “She couldn’t play her game,” the coach said. She didn’t seem to be in rhythm.
Indian Wrestling Federation made this request
After winning the semi-finals, Vinesh had said, “Tomorrow is a big day, I will talk tomorrow.” But who knew that along with him, the hopes of the entire country would be buried under the burden of just 100 grams. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh has written a letter to the IOC to consider awarding the silver medal to Vinesh. Even six-time world champion and 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Jordan Burroughs of America has urged the officials to give Vinesh the silver medal and make concessions on another day. But Cuba’s Yusnelis Guzman Lopez, who lost in the semi-finals, has already been named for the final. Therefore the decision will not be reversed.
