"Frustrated That I Committed A Betrayal": Vinesh Phogat's World Champion Rival At Paris Olympics Gets Emotional

13.08.2024 - 16:37 sports.ndtv.com

Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the women's 50kg wrestling final at Paris Olympics 2024 came as a massive heart-break for Indian sports fans.

However, before that, Vinesh's bouts sent India into euphoria. She pulled off the biggest upset at the Paris Games by outwitting hitherto invincible Yui Susaki with a perfectly planned strategy before edging past Ukraine's Oksana Livach to storm into the women's 50kg semifinal.

The Tokyo Games gold medallist and four-time World Champion (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) Susaki had not lost any of her 82 bouts in her international career but the Japanese top seed hardly had an idea as to what was about to hit her in the opener which she lost 2-3 to Vinesh Phogat.

Later, as Vinesh entered the final, Yui Susaki got a chance in the repechage and won the bronze. But Susaki has now said she committed 'a betrayal' for not winning the gold. "I had the honour of winning the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics!

Sporting wrestling Olympics 2024 Career Strategy Paris Olympics International Ukraine Japan India

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the 50-kg final match in the recent Paris games, was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat here on Sunday. "My fight has not ended, it has rather just begun. The fight for our daughters' honour has just started. We said the same thing during our sit-in," Phogat said, addressing an event organised to felicitate her. She was part of the agitation by wrestlers, mostly from Haryana, against the then Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP leader Brijbhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment last year.

Vinesh Phogat's Brand Value Soars, Wrestler Increases Per Endorsement Fee From Rs 25 Lakh To...

Ace Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat couldn't be rewarded with a medal despite her progression to the final of the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Vinesh's disqualification from the vent, owing to a failed weigh-in by just 100 grams, left the entire India heartbroken. Hopes of being honoured with a silver medal did arise after Vinesh challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), but that verdict also went against her. Though the Paris Games produced quite a dramatic and bitter turn in her career, Vinesh is still seen as a winner back home.

CAS Gives Reasons For Rejecting Vinesh Phogat's Appeal, Says "No Tolerance.."

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that athletes will have to ensure that they remain below their weight limit and no exception can be provided under any circumstance, while giving reasons for its rejection of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification from the Paris Olympics final. An ad-hoc division of the CAS had on August 14 rejected her appeal against a gut-wrenching disqualification from the final for being 100gm overweight, a decision that evoked a sharp reaction from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The CAS on Monday published a detailed decision, furnishing reasons why Vinesh's appeal was rejected.

Vinesh Phogat has seen a lot in the last fortnight. From the high of becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to enter an Olympics final to the low of getting disqualified for being 100 gram overweight on the morning of the gold medal bout, Vinesh has seen a lot. Her appeal for a shared silver medal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) too. The support and adulation for Vinesh has not been short though. From the time she landed in India from Paris, Vinesh has been showered with love wherever she has gone. There have been announcements of cash prize too. However, her husband Somvir Rathee has claimed that few organisations have made the false claims of giving her cash prize of ober Rs 16 crore.

Watch: Tired Vinesh Phogat Falls Ill During Felicitation In Village, Bajrang Punia Concerned

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat had a heartbreaking end to her Paris Olympics 2024 campaign as she was disqualified from women's 50kg freestyle wrestling final for being 100gms overweight. Later, the 29-year-old wrestler even made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to be considered for a joint-silver medal. However, her appeal was also rejected and she had to returned home without any medal. But on a lighter note, Vinesh received a grand welcome from her family and fans after she returned to her home town in Haryana.

Watch: Vinesh Phogat Gets Gold Medal On Return To Village From Paris Olympics 2024

Celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday received a grand welcome on her return to India. Hundreds of supporters gathering outside the IGI airport, showing immense solidarity with Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics. After this, a bigger crowd followed her during a roadshow. On her way to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and 'khap' panchayats in several villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her almost 13 hours on Saturday.