India has protested against Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at Paris Olympics: Sports minister
Several politicians alleged that the disqualification of Phogat after the wrestling semi-final was a ‘conspiracy’ against the country.
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The Indian Olympic Association has lodged a strong protest with wrestling’s global governing body against the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday.
The Indian Olympic Association manages athletes who represent the country at the Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to PT Usha, the chief of the Indian Olympic Association, and asked her to take necessary action in the matter, the minister told Parliament on Wednesday. “The government provided every facility to her [Phogat], including personal staff,” Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha.
Mandaviya’s remarks came after Phogat, who was competing in the women’s 50-kg category in the wrestling event in Paris, was judged to have been overweight by 100 grams and was subsequently disqualified ahead of the final later on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Phogat became the first Indian woman to reach the final of a wrestling event at the Olympics. She also knocked out Japan’s Yui Susaki, who is the defending Olympic champion, earlier in the day.
She had made the weight when her campaign began. However, according to the rules, wrestlers have to maintain that weight over the course of the two competition days.
The Indian Olympic Association confirmed on Wednesday that Phogat had been disqualified.
Also read: Explained: Why Vinesh Phogat...
