Stories of Indian Women Wrestlers Vinesh and Nisha Who Faced Heartbreak at Paris Olympics

Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Women's Wrestling 50kg final due to weight issues, while Nisha Dahiya's Olympic journey ended with a finger injury in a dramatic quarter-final bout

She was just one game away from a silver or a gold medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics. But it was not to be. Just hours before hitting the ring for the finals (at 9:45 PM India time) in the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling match today, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being just few grams overweight.

Another Indian wrestler, Nisha Dahiya’s promising run in the 68kg class ended due to finger injury.

Phogat’s Spectacular Run Ends in Disqualification

Vinesh Phogat made a stunning start to her Olympic campaign in the Women’s Wrestling 50kg category, defeating Japan’s Yui Susaki, the reigning Olympic and world champion, in a thrilling 3-2 victory. Phogat’s spectacular journey continued as she outclassed world number 7 Ukrainian Ostava Livach and Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez with a commanding 5-0 win, securing her place in the final. However, her hopes were shattered when she was disqualified for being slightly over the 50kg weight limit during the weigh-in. The Indian Olympic Association expressed regret over the situation, requesting respect for Phogat’s privacy, The Economic Times said in its report.

Nisha Dahiya’s Challenging Quarter-Final

In another turn of misfortune for Indian wrestling, Nisha Dahiya faced setbacks in her quarter-final bout in the 68kg class against North Korea’s Pak Sol Gum. Leading 6-1 in the first period and 8-1 in the second, Dahiya suffered a finger injury that disrupted her performance. Despite medical attention, she struggled to regain her momentum, ultimately losing 10-8 in a dramatic turn of events. Dahiya was later taken to the hospital with preliminary reports suggesting a dislocated shoulder and fractured finger.

Echoes of Past: Previous Setbacks of Phogat and Dahiya

The heartbreak for Indian wrestling fans was reminiscent of Vinesh Phogat’s previous Olympic campaign in 2016, which was cut short by a knee injury.
Earlier in the tournament, Dahiya had shown promise with a close 6-4 victory over Ukraine’s Tetiana Sova Rizhko. However, her injury proved too significant, ending her Olympic dreams prematurely, a report by Times of India said.

These incidents highlight the tough challenges faced by Indian women wrestlers on the global stage. Despite the disqualification and injury setbacks, the resilience of athletes like Vinesh Phogat and Nisha Dahiya remains evident, reflecting their determination and spirit.

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