The Indian Olympic Association has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the international wrestling federation's decision to disqualify Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final. The country's sport minister announced that the president of the Indian Olympic Association is currently in Paris and has been instructed by the Prime Minister to take appropriate actions in response to the disqualification.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the head of the Indian Olympic association to lodge a protest and explore available options for India. Phogat failed to meet the weight requirement for the competition on Wednesday morning, leading to her disqualification as per the competition rules that mandate wrestlers to maintain their weight category on both days of the tournament.
As a result of Phogat's disqualification, only the gold and bronze medals will be awarded in the event she was scheduled to compete in. Phogat, a three-time Olympian, was supposed to face Team USA's Sarah Hildebrandt in the final match.
Notably, just over a year ago, Phogat was part of an athlete-led protest in New Delhi, where she was found sleeping on the streets, highlighting the issue of sexual harassment allegations within her sport. The incident has sparked discussions and raised concerns about the fairness and adherence to competition rules in international wrestling events.
