India sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya has reacted to the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from Paris Olympics 2024. Mandaviya said that the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) has lodged a strong protest with the world wrestling body on the issue.
Vinesh was found overweight on the morning of her 50kg freestyle gold medal bout on Wednesday (Aug 7), leading to her disqualification.
“Today her weight was found 50 kg 100 grams and she was disqualified. The Indian Olympic Association has lodged a strong protest with the United World Wrestling (UWW). IOA President PT Usha is in Paris, the Prime Minister spoke to her and asked her to take necessary action… The government provided every facility to her including personal staff,” said Mandaviya.
IOC chief PT Usha, who rushed to Paris following the unfortunate incident, said: “Vinesh’s disqualification is very shocking and I met her at the Olympic Village Poly Clinic a short while ago and I showed her complete support of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Government of India and the whole country.”
“We are providing Vinesh all medical and emotional support. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has filed an appeal to UWW to consider the decision to disqualify and IOA is following that up in the strongest possible manner.”
“I am aware of the relentless effort made by Vinesh’s medical team led by doctor Dinshaw Pardiwala and the Chief de Mission Gagan Narang through the night to ensure that she could meet the competition,” added Usha.
Competing in the 50kg, contrary to her usual 53kg, Vinesh beat the likes of Japanese superstar Yui Susaki, Ukraine’s Oksana Livach and Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to become the first Indian woman to reach the final of a wrestling event in Olympic Games on Tuesday (Aug 6).