Hue and cry over Vinesh Phogat getting disqualified and denied the opportunity of winning the gold for India in the Paris Olympics wrestling. Before the finals, Phogal was found weighing 100 gms over 50 kg that led to the disqualification. The matter is in courts to get her a silver. But the Olympic committee wondered where to draw the line. Meanwhile speculations are rife in India laying the blame at the Indian govt’s doorsteps for thwarting the gold for Phogat because of her political involvement (into which I wouldn’t want to delve). Most athletes and sportspeople have come in support of Phogat including some international sportsmen. Many of them have also taken a careful stance expressing sympathy and not indulging in wild speculation. But it remains a fact that body weight is of key concern in the wrestling category.
Aman Sehrawat the wrestler who won bronze for India in 57 kg category being just 21, shed 4.5 kg overnight reportedly to ensure his eligibility. In an interview he says he ate only the food from India and not the mess food while in Paris. His coach made him shed kilos of weight just the previous night before the round for his bronze. Here is a copy-paste job from Google.
Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the victory didn’t come easy to him. Following his semifinal defeat to Japan’s Rei Higuchi on Thursday, August 8, the 21-year-old faced a daunting task—losing 4.5 kilograms to meet the 57kg category limit within 10 hours
Apparently two Indians have done that: Mary Kom for her gold in 2018 and Aman Sehrawat for bronze in 2024: shedding kilos of weight in hours to make it to the medal round. Saina Nehwal was the only sportsperson to say that the responsibility of body weight maintenance lay with the athlete. If indeed politics is involved it is a shame.
Phogat’s could have been the only gold for India after some let-downs.
For Neeraj Chopra who went from gold to silver, once you peak that is how you exit step by step. Even without injury matching Arshad Nadeem’s new world record in javelin would not have been a cakewalk. As Neeraj himself said, the day belonged to Nadeem. Lets close the chapter at that. But its still magnanimous on Chopra’s part not to explain his silver with the injury, not even announcing his injury in the event, and not to dim Nadeem’s light. This is the real sporting spirit.
As for Aman who was orphaned at 11 and raised by grandfather and uncle, the bronze is just the beginning. He becomes the youngest athlete in Indian history to win an Olympic medal. His story is incredible like that of Arshad Nadeed from Pakistan. Even Phogat’s story is unbelievable. I really feel sorry for her and that’s such a cliched word.
India’s Olympic rally has been good. For a nation like ours, bagging 6 medals at world level is still a feat. One or two of them must have been gold. Clear near misses. And a half a dozen fourth places which is no mean achievement. 10th in Steeple chase. We neither have the amenities nor the resources for even coming up to this stage. Its entirely upto our sportspeople to make theirs a success story.
Meanwhile there is more: Japan’s gold medalist wrestler Rei Higuchi who lost his gold to being overweight by 50 gms extends his support to Phogat. Did Modi stop even this gold medal.
Phogat has won everyone’s sympathy and the moral gold. Even the Sanghi capabilities have a limitation. They cannot extend as far as France or to the Olympic committee.
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Meanwhile our Nita Ambani never shy of stealing anyone and everyone’s thunder also posed with Manu Bhaker, the twin medalist in Paris.
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