Vinesh Phogat, the renowned Indian wrestler, has penned a heartfelt note of gratitude to her supporters, following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) dismissal of her appeal for a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite her outstanding performance at the Games, the 29-year-old grappler was left heartbroken and disappointed after being disqualified due to a weight violation.
In a poignant social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Phogat expressed deep appreciation for everyone who had contributed to her journey over the past few years. She specifically thanked her support team, including Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Dr Wayne Patrick Lombard, Coach Woller Akos, Physio Ashwini Jeevan Patil, Tajinder Kaur, the Olympic Gold Quest team, and Gagan Narang, among others, for their invaluable assistance.
The letter began with a moving reflection on her journey: “Olympic rings: as a small girl from a small village I did not know what was the Olympics or what these rings meant. As a small girl, I dream of things like long hair, flaunting a mobile phone in my hand and doing all these things that any young girl would normally dream of.”
Phogat continued, “But survival taught me a lot. Seeing my mother’s hardships, never-give-up attitude and fighting spirit is what makes me the way I am. She taught me to fight for what is rightfully mine. When I think about courage I think about her and it is this courage that helps me fight every fight without thinking about the outcome.”
Vinesh Phogat’s journey at the Olympics took a dramatic turn when she was disqualified from the finals of the 50 Kg women’s freestyle wrestling match after exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams, despite her triumphant victory in the semi-finals. On August 7, she filed a petition with the CAS seeking a silver medal, but her application was dismissed on Wednesday.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that it is exploring further legal options following the dismissal of Phogat’s appeal. The emotional impact of the verdict was evident in a picture posted on Vinesh Phogat’s Instagram handle the day before, showing her lying down on a mat with her hands covering her eyes, suggesting her deep distress over the outcome.
Despite the setback, Vinesh Phogat’s gratitude towards her supporters and her unwavering spirit, inspired by her mother’s strength, serve as a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination.
