What Happens To Wrestling 50kg Final Now That Vinesh Phogat Is Disqualified? Explained

New Delhi: In a heartbreaking development for India’s gold medal hopes at the ongoing Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the women’s freestyle 50 kg wrestling event due to being overweight. She was set to compete in the gold medal match against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt later today.

In a statement, the Indian Olympic Association announced that Vinesh Phogat failed to meet the weight criteria for the 50 kg category, reportedly by just 100 grams. Consequently, she was deemed overweight for competition. This comes just a day after her semifinal bout, where she secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Cuba’s Yusneylys Guazman.

As a result of Phogat’s disqualification, she will not be eligible for any medal. According to Olympic rules, she will now be placed in the last position in the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling category.

This means that her scheduled opponent in the finals, Sarah Hildebrandt, will be awarded the gold medal without a match, according to the Economic Times. In such a situation, only gold and bronze medals will be awarded in the 50 kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024, with no silver medal being given. However, it has now been reported that Guzman Lopez, whom Phogat defeated in the semifinals, will compete in the finals.

According to sources, she was 2 kilograms overweight on Tuesday night. Despite trying running, skipping, and cycling through the night, she was unable to lose the final 100 grams.

Phogat, who regularly competed in the 53 kg category in the past, has faced similar weight challenges before. During the Paris Olympic qualifiers, she also had to reduce her weight within a very short span of time to make the cut. Unlike this time, she successfully managed to do so earlier.