Vinesh Phogat Disqualified from Olympic Wrestling Final, Shaking Up Medal Matches

Written on 07/08/2024
CBS News

Indian women's wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the 50-kilogram wrestling final at the Paris Olympics due to failing to make weight on Wednesday.

This disqualification has impacted the medal matches, forcing adjustments by the organizers. Phogat, who initially defeated Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semifinals, saw Guzman Lopez advance to the gold medal match.

Phogat had an impressive start at the Paris Games, including a victory over four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan, winning her first three matches to secure a spot in the final.



But that is not going to happen. Team India announced on social media Wednesday that Phogat is out.

"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," the announcement said.

Phogat had been seemingly unbeatable on the mat. After beating top-seeded Susaki - who captured gold at the Tokyo Olympics without conceding a point - she then won her quarterfinal match against Ukraine's Oksana Livach 7-5 and her semifinal against Guzman Lopez 5-0 to become the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final.

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