An Indian wrestler who was disqualified in the 50kg gold medal match just hours after making Olympic history has spoken out after a week of silence.
Vinesh Phogat, who became India’s first ever member of an Olympic final only to be eliminated last week for being “a few grams” overweight, released a statement on Friday expressing gratitude for the journey so far and disappointment at how it has ended.
Phogat, who remains admired by Indian fans for her activism for women’s rights and against sexual harassment in sports, said her early withdrawal from the sport left her feeling “what we had planned to achieve remains unfinished”.
Vinesh Phogat (right) will face Yousnaris Guzman Lopez on August 6. David Ramos/Getty Images
“All I want to say is we didn’t give up, we didn’t stop trying, we didn’t surrender, but the clock stopped, time wasn’t fair and neither was my fate,” she said of taking on the weight class. “I can’t predict what the future holds or what’s next on this journey, but I know that I will always keep fighting for what I believe in and what’s right.”
“All I want to say is we didn’t give up, we didn’t stop trying, we didn’t surrender, but the clock stopped, time wasn’t fair and neither was my fate,” she said of her foray into the ranks. “I can’t predict what the future holds or what’s next on this journey, but I know that I will always keep fighting for what I believe in and what’s right.”
The statement came days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Phogat’s application to be awarded a joint silver medal in the women’s 50kg freestyle.
The 29-year-old Phogat beat cash medallist Yui Susaki of Japan, Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinals and Yusneiris Guzman-Lopez of Cuba in the semifinals and was scheduled to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the U.S. team in Wednesday’s final. The court consequently upheld United World Wrestling’s decision to substitute Phogat for the bout and will publish its reasons on its website.
Phogat also credited her journey to the Olympics to the dreams of her late father and the perseverance of her single mother, who was diagnosed with cancer soon after losing her husband.
“When I think of courage, I think of her, and it is this courage that helps me take on every battle without thinking of the consequences,” she said.
Phogat expressed gratitude to her loved ones, naming several people including her husband and fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee and her coach Waller Akoth.
“These people and their belief in me was so strong. They helped me overcome the challenges and get through these last two years,” she said.
Phogat took part in protests last year against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, then president of the Indian Wrestling Federation and a member of parliament, for allegedly harassing, molesting and inappropriately touching young female wrestlers. He was charged with assault, stalking and sexual harassment in June last year but has repeatedly denied the charges.
Phogat and a group of fellow wrestlers filed a complaint with police and began marches and other acts of resistance. In May 2023, she and several others were violently dragged away and detained by riot police for disturbing the peace after they tried to march to the parliament building. Phogat said she hoped the Olympics would be an opportunity to fly her country’s flag with pride.
“During the wrestlers’ protests, I fought hard to protect the sanctity of Indian women and the sanctity and value of the Indian flag. However, when I see a photograph of me holding the Indian flag on May 28, 2023, it troubles me,” Phogat said in a statement. “I had hoped that the Indian flag would fly high at these Olympics and that a photograph of me holding the Indian flag would truly represent its values and restore its sanctity. … I truly wanted to showcase that to the people of India.”
The statement came as a surprise to many fans who speculated that Phogat might retire after her Olympic journey was over. In a since-deleted social media post last week, she had written that her courage had “broken”.
“No more strength,” Phogat wrote in Hindi. “Goodbye wrestling from 2001 to 2024.”
However, it appears that this won’t be the last fans will hear about the wrestler.
“There is so much more I want to say and share, but words are never enough. Perhaps I will speak again when the time is right,” she said in a recent statement.
