By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | August 07, 2024
Prologue
I was driving home when a message flashed on “La Familia” our family whatsapp group. “Vinesh Phogat Disqualified.” “Is this true?” I chatted back. “Yes. Overweight by 100 gms.” I thought this was some joke. It seemed bizarre. Just the previous night, between the India-Germany semi-final we had watched Vinesh Phogat decimate Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman 5-0 to make it to the Women’s Freestyle 50kg Final at the Paris Olympics 2024.
A Nation Weeps
A billion hearts shattered. A nation in disbelief. These are the haunting echoes that reverberate through the land as we grapple with the cruelest twist of fate in the life of Vinesh Phogat. A wrestler of unparalleled skill, courage, and determination, she was robbed of her moment of glory, by a mere 100 grams. A Cruel Twist of Fate seems to be the overriding factor in Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic participation.
Competing in her third Olympic Games after a rickety road to Paris, Vinesh Phogat defied the odds. She stunned Tokyo Olympic Champion Yui Susaki in the opening round, a wrestler undefeated in 82 matches. With a subsequent victory over Ukraine’s Livach Oksana, in the quarter-finals and Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, Vinesh was tantalizingly close to an Olympic medal.
The Rise of a Champion: Rio 2016
Vinesh Phogat is not just a name; she is a symbol of India’s burgeoning sporting spirit. Her journey from the dusty akharas of Haryana to the global wrestling arena has been inspirational. The Rio Olympics 2016 saw her bow out with a knee injury. A Cruel Twist of Fate that mirrored the nation’s agony. Yet, she rose from the ashes, her spirit unbroken.
Just 21 years old, Vinesh Phogat burst onto the Olympic stage with a commanding 11-0 victory over Romania’s Emilia Alina Vuc. Despite a painful elbow injury suffered early in the match, she soldiered on. However, fate intervened cruelly in the quarterfinals. Matched against China’s Sun Yanan, Vinesh fought hard, but a crucial takedown by her opponent led to a devastating knee injury. The once-promising Olympic dream was shattered as a tearful Vinesh Phogat was carried off the mat on a stretcher.
Tokyo 2021: A Glimpse of Glory
Tokyo 2021 was a different story. A transformed Vinesh Phogat, steeled by adversity, was a force to reckon with. She bulldozed her way through the competition; her every move a masterpiece of athleticism and precision. With each victory, the nation’s hopes soared. She was not just a wrestler; she was a ray of hope, a symbol of India’s potential on the world wrestling stage.
However, the top-seeded Indian lost her quarter-final bout to Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladinskaya. It was a massive 2-9 upset. After the loss, a heartbroken Vinesh said: “My body is not broken, but I truly am.”
A Fighter Beyond the Mat: Vinesh’s Fight for Justice
But Vinesh’s story extends far beyond the wrestling mat. She is a warrior who has fought battles on and off the field. Her steadfast stance against the alleged sexual harassment by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is proof of her courage and integrity. The images of her, a diminutive figure pitted against the might of the state, have become iconic. Dragged away from a peaceful protest, she emerged as a symbol of resilience, inspiring millions to raise their voice against injustice.
The Unforgivable Betrayal: A Technicality Denies Vinesh Gold
Her journey to the Paris Olympics was not without hurdles. Putting the agitation behind her and losing crucial training and competition time, she trained hard. Countless hours of gruelling training, sacrifices beyond measure, and a relentless pursuit of perfection—all culminated in a moment that should have been the crowning glory of her career. Yet, fate dealt a cruel blow. It was A Cruel Twist of Fate yet again for her. A weight discrepancy of a mere 100 grams became the insurmountable hurdle, a technicality that overshadowed years of blood, sweat, and tears.
Beyond the Heartbreak: A Call for Change
It is a bitter pill. A sportsperson trains for years and sacrifices everything to chase a dream. To be denied that dream on such a frivolous ground is nothing short of a daylight robbery. Pain, anger, disbelief—these are emotions that are tearing through the nation. Is this a rule? Seriously?? 100 grams!!! Wake up International Olympic Committee.
A Nation Weeps… A Nation’s Hope and Inspiration
Imagine the mental and physical toll this ordeal has taken on Vinesh. The disappointment, the frustration, the sense of betrayal—these are wounds that will take time to heal. She carried the hopes of a billion people on her shoulders. To fall short so agonizingly close is a burden almost too heavy to bear.
In sports, there are triumphs and there are heartbreaks. But this is a heartbreak of a different order. It is a stain on the fair play that sports are supposed to embody. It is a reminder that even in the pursuit of excellence, human errors and bureaucratic indifference can rob athletes of their rightful glory.
As a nation, we stand with Vinesh Phogat. Her journey is far from over. She has shown us the strength of a lioness, the courage of a warrior, and the heart of a champion. And we know, deep down, that this is not the end of her story.
A nation awaits your return, Vinesh. You are our champion, no matter what.
Epilogue
Her story is not just about a lost medal, but a battle for dignity, justice, and the future of women’s wrestling in India. As fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia rightly pointed out, Vinesh’s fight is not for personal glory but for creating a safer, more equitable environment for the next generation of wrestlers. Her performance, etched in the annals of Indian sports, is one of courage—A champion in every sense.
Vinesh Phogat has inspired a nation, and her fight for justice will continue to reverberate long after the spotlight fades.
India salutes you, Vinesh Phogat!
[Moody Marty: Sometimes funny, sometimes informative, always downright forthright!]
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