‘It’s a sad day for us’: Karnataka LoP R Ashoka on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification

BENGALURU: Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, on Wednesday said that it was a very sad day as Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat got disqualified from the Paris Olympics after she was found overweight in the 50 kg category.

Ashoka said, “It’s a sad day for us. It is really very sad. I can’t say anything”. He further said that mentally, Indians anticipated a gold medal after Phogat qualified for the finals of freestyle wrestling in the 50 kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024. “We anticipated a gold medal. I think mentally, Indians were looking forward to a gold medal”, he said.

Earlier, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has lodged a strong protest with the United World Wrestling (UWW) after Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics for being “overweight” in the 50 kg category.

Making a statement in Lok Sabha, the minister listed the steps the government took to support her preparation. The members earlier voiced their concern over Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification ahead of her gold medal bout at the Olympics.

Mandaviya said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha and asked her to take the necessary action. “Today, her weight was found 50 kg 100 grams and she was disqualified. The Indian Olympic Association has lodged a strong protest with the United World Wrestling (UWW). IOA president P T Usha is in Paris; the Prime Minister spoke to her and asked her to take necessary action”, the minister said, adding that the government provided every facility to her, including personal staff.

A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent earlier said that Vinesh Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.

“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50 kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50 kg 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,” the statement read.

Vinesh Phogat had entered the Olympic final after beating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinals on Tuesday night. After Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez will be competing for the gold against United States’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. (ANI)