Mahavir Phogat Hopes Vinesh Phogat Will Compete in 2028 Olympics After Disqualification
Charkhi Dadri (Haryana) [India], August 8: Following Vinesh Phogat’s retirement from wrestling, her uncle and Indian wrestling legend Mahavir Phogat said it was natural for her to make this decision after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics. He also mentioned that the family will try to convince her to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics once she returns home.
Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement after being disqualified in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics. Mahavir Phogat expressed his disappointment, saying, “She was going to bring the Olympic gold this time but got disqualified. It is natural to feel hurt after such a setback and hence she arrived at this decision. Once she is back home, we will try talking to her about competing in the 2028 Olympics.”
Mahavir also praised Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s decision to welcome Vinesh home with the same respect, facilities, and rewards given to Olympic silver medalists. He said, “It is a good initiative by the CM. He has accepted the fact that she has got the silver medal. It is a good step and I support this. I thank the Haryana government, it will encourage other athletes if such things ever happen to them.”
Haryana CM Nayab Saini stated that Vinesh Phogat will be welcomed and felicitated like an Olympic medal winner. He wrote on social media platform X, “Our brave daughter of Haryana, Vinesh Phogat, performed brilliantly and entered the finals of the Olympics. Due to some reasons, she may not have been able to play the final of the Olympics but she is a champion for all of us.”
Mahavir Phogat also mentioned that he would not quit coaching and urged the parents and supporters of other 2024 Olympic-qualified women wrestlers, Anshu, Antim Panghal, Reetika Hooda, and Nisha Dahiya, to prepare them for the 2028 Olympics.
Vinesh had advanced to the gold medal bout by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals. She was set to compete against the United States’ Sarah Ann Hildebrandt for the gold medal but was disqualified for breaching the weight limit. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha expressed her shock and disappointment over Phogat’s disqualification, confirming that while Phogat is physically and medically fine, she is disappointed. Usha noted that the support staff is actively working to help Phogat manage her weight.
Dinshaw Pardiwala, Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic contingent, revealed that Phogat exceeded the weight limit by 2.7 kg after her semi-final bout. Efforts were made to reduce her weight by restricting her food and water intake. Phogat also appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following her disqualification, requesting the silver medal. The verdict is expected on Thursday morning.
In her career, Vinesh secured two World Championships bronze medals (2019 and 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014), and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022). She was also a gold medalist in the Asian Championships in 2021 and has won silver and bronze at the continental level too.
Doubts Revealed
Mahavir Phogat -: Mahavir Phogat is a famous Indian wrestling coach and the father of Geeta and Babita Phogat, who are also well-known wrestlers. He is the uncle of Vinesh Phogat.
Vinesh Phogat -: Vinesh Phogat is an Indian wrestler who has won many medals in international competitions. She is part of the famous Phogat family of wrestlers.
2028 Olympics -: The 2028 Olympics is a major international sports event that will be held in Los Angeles, USA. Athletes from all over the world compete in various sports.
Disqualification -: Disqualification means that a player is not allowed to continue in the competition because they broke a rule. In this case, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for not meeting the weight limit.
Paris Olympics -: The Paris Olympics refers to the Olympic Games that will be held in Paris, France, in 2024. It is a big sports event where athletes from many countries compete.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini -: Nayab Singh Saini is a politician from Haryana, a state in India. CM stands for Chief Minister, who is the head of the state government.
Court of Arbitration for Sport -: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an international body that helps resolve disputes related to sports. Athletes can appeal to CAS if they think a decision made against them is unfair.
Silver medalist -: A silver medalist is someone who wins second place in a competition. In the Olympics, the top three athletes in each event receive gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Weight limit -: Weight limit refers to the maximum or minimum weight an athlete can have to compete in a certain category. If they don’t meet this limit, they can be disqualified.