Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with Mahavir Phogat, uncle of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, on Wednesday. The meeting followed a major setback for India as Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024.
"To check her weight was the work of her coaches and physiotherapists. Now, the decision has come. This injustice should have been stopped...Did they (The Centre) fix anyone's accountability at the time when our women wrestlers went to immerse their medals in the river," on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said.
Phogat was disqualified after failing to meet the weight limit for her gold medal bout. On the morning of her match, she was approximately 100 grams over the permissible weight limit. Despite her best efforts, including a 15-minute window to reduce weight and even considering cutting her hair, Phogat could not make the required weight.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed Phogat's disqualification in a statement: "It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy."
As a result of Phogat's disqualification, Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Vinesh Phogat in the semi-final, will contest the gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Paris Games organizing committee released a statement: "Vinesh failed the second-day weigh-in. According to Article 11 of the International Wrestling Rules, Vinesh (IND) will be replaced by the wrestler who lost against her in the Semifinal. Therefore, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (CUB) will compete in the Final. Repechage Yui Susaki (Japan) vs Oksana Livach (Ukraine) will become the Bronze Medal Match."