2024-08-15 15:14:39
Vinesh Phogat wanted to fight for gold, but her dream of a medal was dashed on the scales. Now a court has made a final decision.
After being disqualified for being 100 grams overweight, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat tried in vain to win Olympic silver at the green table. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the 29-year-old’s appeal against the disqualification by the world association UWW.
Last week, Phogat announced her immediate resignation in frustration. “Mother Wrestling won against me, I lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered,” she wrote on X: “I have no strength left now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will be forever indebted to all of you. Sorry.”
Phogat’s dream of an Olympic medal had been painfully shattered on the scales. The gold contender, who was due to compete in the final in the weight class up to 50 kg against the American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, was slightly too heavy despite all her efforts, including going to the sauna, not eating and even having a haircut, and was not allowed to compete.