Vinesh Phogat Honoured with Gold Medal by Sarvkhap Panchayat After Heartbreaking Disqualification at Paris Olympics

Vinesh Phogat Honoured with Gold Medal by Sarvkhap Panchayat After Heartbreaking Disqualification at Paris Olympics

Olympic Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who faced a heart-wrenching disqualification from the final bout in the 50-kg category in a memorable Paris Olympics exhibition on Sunday, was awarded a gold medal by Sarvkhap Panchayat. She thanked and expressed a will to continue fighting, not only in sports but also for the dignity and prestige of women in India.

Addressing the gathering, Phogat said, “My fight has not ended, it has rather just begun. The fight for our daughters’ honour has just started. We said the same thing during our sit-in.” Phogat was one of the main protesters consisting of wrestlers, mainly from Haryana, against the former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP leader Brijbhushan Sharan Singh on sex scandal charges against him.

“When I could not compete in Paris, I thought I was very unfortunate, but after returning to India and experiencing all the love and support here, I feel that I am very fortunate,” Phogat reflected, as she spoke of the support that had given her spirit a boost. She went on to add that such a gesture by the Sarvkhap Panchayat would show the other women athletes, too, that their respective communities stand by them through thick and thin. “I shall be forever grateful for this honour above any medal,” she said in conclusion.

Phogat is from Balali in Haryana. At the recently held Olympics in Paris, she fell prey to bad luck due to her disqualification for failing to meet the weight on the day of her 50-kg category final bout. Fellow wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, besides panchayat heads, extended a warm welcome to her at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi upon her arrival in India.

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Phogat’s Paris Olympics coach, Woller Akos, revealed how the intense and dangerous weight-cutting regime Phogat had gone through at night before the final weigh-in. Whosoever tries from her team, she couldn’t meet the required weight, and therefore was disqualified. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport—that in appreciation for the efforts taken by her, she should be awarded a joint silver medal—was also denied, and that marked a disappointing end to her Olympic journey.

This was honor given to her by the Sarvkhap Panchayat for her bravery and the strong support from her community.