Ace Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat went up against and beat the World No.1 Olympic champion, Japan’s Yui Susaki in the 50kg freestyle category at the Paris Olympics 2024. Later she defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach and Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals. This makes her the first Indian woman in the running for a gold medal in wrestling at the Olympics.

The gripping round didn’t just leave viewers thrilled but also earned praise across the board. Several Bollywood celebrities cheered for Vinesh Phogat including Taapsee Pannu. The actress took to her social media handle and wrote, “This woman is going to be recalled as a benchmark in a lot of ways for decades to come! What a woman! What a crazy year she has had and what courage she has shown. Your fan for life.”

Rajkummar Rao shared a photo of the wrestler from the Paris Olympics 2024.

He wrote, “And we are in the finals. It was such a joy watching you playing live. You are the pride of our nation @vineshphogat. Good luck for the finals. Our prayers are with you.”

Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra who portrayed Vinesh’s cousins Geeta and Babita on screen in Aamir Khan’s Dangal also shared pictures and videos of the winning moment on social media to celebrate.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, hoping to win India a gold medal at Paris Olympics, received a shock today after being disqualified from her event hours before the final. The reason: she was 100 grams overweight to compete in the 50-kg wrestling event. The news has broke the heart of millions of Indians, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested the Indian Olympic Association to explore all options to appeal against the disqualification.

Sources though told NDTV that there is very little elbow room for negotiation in the case once an athlete has failed to meet the basic standards.

PM Modi personally spoke with IOA President PT Usha, seeking firsthand information on the matter and potential avenues for redressal. He instructed PT Usha to exhaust all options to support Ms Phogat’s case, including filing a strong protest against the disqualification if necessary.

Vinesh Phogat, a renowned wrestler and Olympic medal hopeful, was considered a strong contender in the 50-kg category. Her disqualification has sparked widespread disappointment, but PM Modi’s prompt intervention has rekindled hopes for a reversal of the decision.

In a big blow to India’s medal hopes from the wrestling arena, grappler Vinesh Phogat was earlier today disqualified from the 50 kg women’s wrestling event.

Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Ms Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.

PM Modi also posted a tweet consoling the wrestler, calling her a champion among champions.

“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,” the Prime Minister said.

Until now, no trace had been found of Bilha Yinon, whose house was burnt down on 7 October. 

​Until now, no trace had been found of Bilha Yinon, whose house was burnt down on 7 October.