Paris Olympics Champ Rei Higuchi, Disqualified For 50g Overweight Before Tokyo 2020, Comforts Vinesh Phogat

Japanese wrestler and Paris Olympics 2024 gold medallist Rei Higuchi, once disqualified for being overweight ahead of Tokyo 2020, comforted India's Vinesh Phogat, saying he understands her pain the best.

The Indian wrestler Vinesh suffered a heartbreak earlier in the week after she was found to be overweight by 100 grams ahead of the gold medal match in the women's 50kg freestyle event.

The 29-year-old Indian had registered impressive wins over the superiorly ranked opponents, including the opening round stunning win over gold medal favourite, Yui Susaki to reach the final.

But was met with disappointment just a few hours later after failing to make weight for the final. She also announced her retirment from the sport following the disqualification.

Something similar had happened to Higuchi three years ago before his home Olympics in Tokyo when he missed weight during the qualification tournament in the same 57kg weight category.

The Japanese, who bounced back from the heartbreak with a gold in Paris 2024, took to social media after his gold medal bout to comfort the Indian wrestler and told her to keep the outside noise away.

"I understand your pain the best. Same 50g. Don't worry about the voices around you. Life goes on. Rising from setbacks is the most beautiful thing. Take a good rest," Higuchi posted on X replying via quotes to Vinesh's retirement post.

Vinesh had created history by becoming the first Indian women's wrestler to reach an Olympic final and was on the verge of becoming the first woman athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games.

However, she failed to make weight on the morning of the final round of the most crucial bout, having gained over 2 kilos after the semi-final. Vinesh, who received the heartbreaking news of disqulaification, was hospitalised for dehydration due to excessive cardio, cycling that she did overnight to shed the extra.