• Source:JND
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Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was hoping to earn a gold medal for India at the Paris Olympics, was shocked on Wednesday when she was disqualified hours before the gold medal match.

The reason: she was overweight for the 50-kg wrestling category competition. The announcement has broken the hearts of millions of Indians, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Olympic Association to consider all options for appealing the disqualification.

Prime Minister Modi called Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha to assess the situation.

As per the reports in media, India have filed an appeal in the matter of wrestler Vinesh Phogat under the Protocol. The Indian wrestler has been disqualified from her 50kg women's wrestling freestyle gold medal battle at the Paris Olympics 2024 for failing to meet the weight requirements on the morning of the bout.

As per ANI, PM Modi spoke to IOA President PT Usha and sought first-hand information from her on the issue and the options India has in the wake of Vinesh's setback. He requested her to consider all possible solutions to Vinesh's issue. He further advised PT Usha to make a vigorous protest against her disqualification if it would benefit Vinesh.

PM Modi in a post on his official X account, called Phogat as country's pride and a motivation for every Indian.

"Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you," PM Modi wrote on X.

Vinesh made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal round on Tuesday night. Prior to this morning, she was guaranteed at least a silver medal, but owing to the disqualification, she will now return empty-handed.

Earlier the IOA confirmed the development and demanded the wrestler's privacy, as she competed in her third Olympics.

"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 from the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent this time. The Indian team requests you to respect Vinesh's privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand," a statement from IOA read.