Paris Olympics: You don't need a gold medal...' - PM Modi, Bindra react to Vinesh Phogat's disqualification
Paris 2024: PM Modi, Bindra react after Vinesh Phogat's disqualification (Photo AFP/X).
On Wednesday (Aug 7), India suffered a huge blow as wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified ahead ofher gold medal match in the women's 50kgfreestyle wrestling finalat the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 edition. The in-form wrestler was deemed to be overweight and, hence, got disqualified.
The news shocked the entire country as the whole of India was expecting Vinesh to bring home a gold. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah,Olympic medallists PV Sindhu andAbhinav Bindra, etc., reacted to Vinesh's shocking disqualification.
PM Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing.At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you."
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More reactions:
As per sources, Indian PM alsospoke with IOA President PT Usha about Vinesh's setback, urging her to explore all options and file a strong protest against her disqualification. Atop official in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)told PTI, "Vinesh was overweight, so she was disqualified from the competition."
Competing in the 50kg, contrary to her usual 53kg, Vineshbeat the likes ofJapanese superstar Yui Susaki , Ukraine'sOksana Livach and Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to become the first Indianwomantoreach the final of a wrestling event in Olympic Games on Tuesday (Aug 6). However, Vinesh was deemed overweight on the day of her gold medal match, against USA's Sarah Hildebrandt, and got disqualified. Her final bout was set to take place later on Wednesday.
Vinesh did everything she could to weigh under the permissible limit, however, all her efforts fell flat. This comes as a huge shock to the Indian contingent, whowereexpecting its maiden gold in Paris Olympics courtesy of in-formVinesh.