In a shocking development at the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the women’s 50kg final after being found overweight by a mere 100 grams. Phogat, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in the event, was disqualified on Wednesday morning.

Phogat’s journey to the final had been marked by remarkable resilience and skill, making her a beacon of hope for Team India on Day 12 of the Paris Games. However, the joy was short-lived as the weigh-in on the morning of her final revealed she was slightly over the permissible limit, leading to her immediate disqualification.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) issued a statement expressing their 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.”

An Indian coach provided further details, stating, “She was found overweight by 100 grams this morning. The rules do not allow this and she has been disqualified.”

According to competition rules, Phogat’s disqualification means she will not be eligible for a silver medal, and the 50kg category will only see gold and bronze medal winners. Phogat’s disqualification is a significant setback for the Indian wrestling team, which had high hopes for her performance.