Minutes after wrestler Vinesh Phogat crashed out of Paris Olympics for being overweight by just 100 gm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a social media message, asking the wrestler to not lose hope and come back stronger.

“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 posted on X, as the nation tried to cope with the heartbreak of the ace wrestler’s disqualification ahead of the final round. Vinesh Phogat was assured of a medal after she raised the nation’s hopes for a gold with her stellar show in the earlier bouts.

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…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2024

The Prime Minister, sources said, had spoken to PT Usha, veteran athlete and Indian Olympics Association president, on the options open to India and Vinesh Phogat in this case. The Prime Minister has asked the IOA chief to explore all options and has urged her to register India’s strong protest over Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification.

There are about 11 hours left for the bout and Indian authorities are now trying all options to tackle this shocking turn of events.

Vinesh is competing in the 50kg freestyle wrestling category. She has earlier competed in the 53kg category, but brought her weight down for Paris Olympics. While she cleared the earlier weight tests, she was found weighing 100 grams more on Day 2 of weigh-in.

Vinesh, it is learnt, skipped meals, exercised and stayed up the whole night to ensure she meets the weight criteria. Indian officials also asked the Olympic committee for more time, but in vain.

What has made her disqualification more agonising is her stunning race to the final. Vinesh yesterday scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of a wrestling event in the Olympics. She defeated the defending champion, Japan’s Yui Susaki, ending her 82-win streak.

In a heartbreaking twist of fate for Vinesh Phogat, the Indian wrestler has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh, who was set to compete for gold medal on Wednesday in the Women’s 50kg final, was disqualified by the event organisers as she was a few grams overweight on the morning of her gold medal match against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. For the unversed, Vinesh had cut down on her weight to compete in the 50kg category, having previously competed in the 53kg category.

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…

— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) August 7, 2024

Vinesh was eligible to compete on Day 1 after she made the weight. However, as per the rules, a wrestler must meet the weight limit on both the days. As a result, Vinesh won’t be eligible for even a silver, and the 50kg event will only have a gold and two bronze medals.

It has been learnt that Vinesh didn’t sleep the whole night and did everything in her capacity to meet the weight criteria. Neither Vinesh nor the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) can make an appeal against the verdict.

Vinesh had defied the odds to become the first Indian woman to reach the final of a wrestling event at the Olympics.

She began her big by ousting defending champion Yui Susaki who had never lost a bout in her international career and is a four-time world champion.

Having tackled her toughest opponent in the competition, the Indian then beat eighth seed Oksana Livach of Ukraine to secure a berth in the semi-finals of the women’s 50kg freestyle event.

In the semifinals, Vinesh got the better of Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to secure a medal and become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics.

In a heartbreaking development for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg event after being found 100gm overweight ahead of her gold-medal match against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt on Wednesday. Vinesh will now finish last in the final standings of her event and will not be eligible for any medal as a result of her disqualification.