A disheartening update came for India from the Paris Olympics. A few hours before the final match, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified. This means that Vinesh Phogat is now out of the Olympics, shattering her dream to win 'gold.' Despite this, had the match taken place and Vinesh Phogat lost, she would still have secured 'silver.'
Vinesh Phogat was competing in the women's 50kg freestyle category. On Wednesday, she won three consecutive matches to secure her place in the final. In the semifinal, she defeated Cuba's Guzmán López.
With Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, Guzmán López will now play in the final. The final match will be between Guzmán López and American wrestler Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.
Currently, preparations are underway to appeal against Vinesh's disqualification, as it is the only remaining option. This appeal is crucial as it was able to cancel the disqualification of a Kenyan athlete.
What Happened Exactly?
On August 5, the women's 5000 meters race took place at the Olympics. In this race, Kenyan athletes won both the gold and silver medals. Beatrice Chebet took gold while Faith Kipyegon secured silver, and Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands won bronze. Beatrice Chebet won the 5000 meters race in 14 minutes and 28.56 seconds.
However, after the race, Faith Kipyegon was disqualified. The Olympic Committee stated that video footage revealed that during the race, Kipyegon collided with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay.
It was claimed that with two laps remaining, Gudaf Tsegay had taken the lead when Kipyegon collided with her from behind. Despite this collision, Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon finished first and second, respectively. They hugged and celebrated at the finish line, but Kipyegon was soon disqualified.
Source: aajtak
From Joy to Disappointment and Back
Faith Kipyegon's joy from winning the silver quickly turned to disappointment when she was disqualified even before receiving the medal.
She appealed against her disqualification. Beatrice Chebet revealed that Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay came onto Kipyegon's track, causing Kipyegon to push her away to avoid being obstructed. This push disrupted Kipyegon’s balance as she tried to stay on the track.
Eventually, Kipyegon's disqualification was overturned, and she was awarded the silver medal.
Can a Miracle Happen for Vinesh?
Can the same kind of miracle that happened for Kenya's Faith Kipyegon happen for Vinesh Phogat? The chances seem slim. Kipyegon's disqualification was due to confusion, whereas Vinesh Phogat's disqualification is due to being overweight.
However, India can appeal against this. The President of the Indian Wrestling Federation (WFI), Sanjay Singh, mentioned that the federation is looking into the legal aspects.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with PT Usha, the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), asking for a report. He has advised exploring all options and registering a protest with the Paris Olympic Committee.
Meanwhile, the governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), has stated that nothing can be done now. UWW has emphasized that rules are rules, and nothing can be done about the disqualification.
