'Fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there,'- Vinesh Phogat breaks silence on Paris Olympics 2024 controversy

Published at :August 16, 2024 at 11:46 PM

Modified at :August 16, 2024 at 11:47 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Phogat penned a heartfelt message on X.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has broken her silence a week after her shocking disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024. In a heartfelt letter shared on social media, Phogat opened up about her Olympic journey, the disappointment of missing out on the gold medal bout and her gratitude to those who supported her along the way.

Phogat’s Olympic dream came to an abrupt end when she was disqualified from competing in the 50kg weight class final due to being 100 grams over the stipulated weight limit. This came as a devastating blow to the athlete, who had made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach a wrestling event final at the Olympics.

In her letter, Phogat addressed the controversy surrounding her disqualification and the subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She and the Indian Olympic Association had sought a joint silver medal, but their appeal was dismissed.

Phogat wrote, “On the night of 6th August and the morning of 7th August, all I want to say is that we did not give up, our efforts did not stop and we did not surrender, but the clock stopped and the time was not fair. So was my fate.

“To my team, my fellow Indians and my family, it feels like the goal that we were working towards and what we had planned to achieve is unfinished, that something might always remain missing and that things might never be the same again.”

The wrestler also touched upon the significance of the Paris Olympics for her personally. Referring to the wrestlers’ protest she had been part of earlier, Phogat expressed her desire to restore the sanctity of the Indian flag through her performance at the Games:

“During the wrestlers protest I was fighting hard to protect the sanctity of women in India, the sanctity and values of our Indian flag. But, when one looks at the pictures of me with the Indian flag from 28th May 2023, it haunts me.

“It was my wish to have the Indian flag fly high this Olympics, to have a picture of the Indian flag with me that truly represents its value and restores its sanctity. I felt that by doing this it will correctly represent what the flag went through and what wrestling went through. I really was hoping to show that to my fellow Indians.”

A significant portion of Phogat’s letter was dedicated to thanking those who played crucial roles in her journey. She particularly highlighted Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the Indian contingent’s Chief Medical Officer at the Paris Olympics. Phogat described Dr. Pardiwala as “an angel in disguise sent by God,” crediting him with helping her recover from multiple injuries, including a career-threatening setback at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Phogat’s praise for Dr. Pardiwala comes in stark contrast to the criticism he faced on social media following her disqualification.

She wrote, “Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala. This is not a new name in Indian sports. For me, and I think for many other Indian athletes, he is not just a doctor but an angel in disguise sent by god. When I had stopped believing in myself after facing injuries, it was his belief, work and faith in me that got me back on my feet again. He has operated on me not once but thrice (both knees and one elbow) and has shown me how resilient the human body can be.

“His dedication, kindness and honesty towards his work and towards Indian sports is something no one will doubt, including God. I’m forever grateful to him and his entire team for their work and dedication. As a part of the Indian contingent, having him present at the Paris Olympics was a God’s gift for all fellow athletes.”

'Fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there,'- Vinesh Phogat breaks silence on Paris Olympics 2024 controversy

Phogat penned a heartfelt message on X.

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