Does Vinesh Phogat Lose Her Medal Too with Disqualification from Gold Medal Match at Paris Olympics?

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In a heartbreaking twist for Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, she is set to be disqualified from the Paris Olympics after failing to make weight for her 50 kg gold medal match.

Phogat was reportedly 150 grams over the permissible limit on the morning of her final bout, a violation that led to her disqualification, reported Sportstar. But does she lose her medal too?

According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, any wrestler who fails to make weight is disqualified from the competition and placed last, which means Phogat will also lose her medal.

As per an official communication by the local organising committee of Paris Olympics, Yusneylys Guzman, who lost in the semifinal to Vinesh Phogat the other night, will now replace the disqualified wrestler in the final tonight against Sarah Hilderbrandt.

Sources revealed that Phogat, who had made weight for her previous bouts, was approximately 2 kilos overweight the night before her final match. She spent the entire night attempting to lose the excess weight through jogging, skipping, and cycling. Despite these exhaustive efforts, she could not shed the last few grams. The Indian delegation's plea for additional time was denied, leaving Phogat with no recourse but to face disqualification.

This setback is not new for Phogat, who has previously struggled to meet the weight requirements in the 50 kg category. She narrowly made the cut during the Olympic qualifiers. On Tuesday, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, defeating world number one Yui Susaki of Japan and securing victories against wrestlers from Ukraine and Cuba. Her journey was a testament to her resilience and skill, making this disqualification all the more devastating.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released an official statement expressing regret over the incident: "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 by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh's privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand."

Scheduled to face Sarah Hildebrandt in the final, Phogat was seen as having a strong chance of securing gold due to her favorable head-to-head record against the American wrestler. With Phogat's disqualification, Hildebrandt will now be awarded the gold medal, leaving Phogat empty-handed and marking a somber end to her Olympic campaign.

This incident underscores the stringent nature of weight regulations in wrestling and the immense pressures athletes face. Vinesh Phogat's story, marked by her determination and endurance, serves as a poignant reminder of the fine margins that can define success and failure in competitive sports. An official announcement regarding her disqualification is expected later today, concluding a deeply disappointing episode in what had been an inspiring journey for the Indian wrestler.