Page 3 - Wrestling

Don't have strength for more: Vinesh Phogat bids adieu to wrestling

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced retirement after her heartbreaking disqualification from the Olympics, saying she doesn't have the strength to continue. The 29-year-old, who was disqualified for being 100gm overweight ahead of her 50kg category gold medal bout on Wednesday, posted on X to announce her decision. Addressing her mother Premlata, Vinesh wrote, "Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken." "I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me).

Rules can't be changed retrospectively: UWW prez on Vinesh disqualification

The United World Wrestling (UWW) president Nenad Lalovic categorically informed Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha that the current weigh-in rule that led to the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from women's freestyle 50 kg final "cannot be changed in retrospect" while sympathising with the grappler for the turmoil she is going through. Vinesh, who was in the final of the 50 kg category was found overweight by 100 gram during the second day's mandatory weigh-in, leading to her disqualification from the gold medal match. "On IOA's suggestion that a wrestler's results from the day on which the athlete met the weigh-in requirements should not be disqualified, the UWW President was sympathetic. UWW will also discuss the suggestion at an appropriate platform but it could not be done retrospectively," the said UWW in a statement which would certainly ring good for Vinesh. Meanwhile, the Indian wrestler has also appealed against disqualification from Olympic finals in the

Paris Olympics 2024: Vinesh appeals against Olympic disqualification in CAS

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday appealed against her disqualification from the 50kg category Olympic finals in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal after being forced out for being 100gm overweight in the morning weigh-in. An Indian Olympic Association(IOA) source in the visiting Indian contingent confirmed the development to PTI. "Yes we got to know about it. It has been done by her team," said the source. Vinesh was disqualified after being found 100gm overweight during the morning weigh-in. She had to be taken to a polyclinic at the Games village owing to severe dehydration caused by her desperate measures to make the cut, which included going hungry, avoiding fluids and staying up all night to sweat it out. An ad-hoc division of the CAS has been set up here for resolution by arbitration of any disputes arising during the Olympic Games or during a period of 10 days preceding the Opening Ceremony. The matter wi

'It's part of game', Vinesh Phogat tells Indian coaches after losing medal

"It's part of the game," a brave Vinesh Phogat told the Indian coaches who met her after her shock disqualification from the Paris Olympics for weighing 100g more than the permissible limit in the women's 50kg category here on Wednesday. Women's national coach Virender Dahiya and Manjeet Rani met the feisty wrestler, who had caused a flutter at the wrestling arena by beating world number one and defending champion Yui Susaki in the opening round on Tuesday. As the nation prepared to celebrate Vinesh's medal-winning run -- she was assured of at-least a silver -- Vinesh was disqualified when she could not ace the second weigh-in. "It sent a shockwave through the wrestling contingent. The girls were feeling pretty low after the news broke. We met Vinesh and tried to console her. She was brave. She told us, 'it's hard luck that we missed the medal, but it is part of the game'," Dahiya said, sharing the details of their meeting. "Several IOA officials were also there to meet her." Ther

'Conspiracy theories' on Vinesh's expulsion; before her it was Narsingh

Social media erupted with conspiracy theories on wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, where sports enthusiasts questioned how she could gain two kilograms in a day, especially after a match

India's Olympic dream dashed: Vinesh Phogat disqualified, nation reacts

Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight

Paris 2024: Vinesh assures at least Silver in women's 50kg category

She grappled on the streets with an "unjust system" without a care in the world and on Tuesday Vinesh Phogat brought a lot of that panache to the mat as well, taking down one big name after another to become India's first woman wrestler to enter the finals of the Olympic Games. The 29-year-old from Haryana defeated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba 5-0 in the semifinals where she used brain and brawn in equal measure to be assured of a at least a silver in her third Olympic outing. This was after she was stretchered off on her debut in Rio 2016 and had a forgettable outing in Tokyo four years later. "Tomorrow is an important, will talk then," she told the waiting media before vanishing from the sight to prepare for her summit battle against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. On the day, she beat world No. 1 and reigning Olympic champion Yui Sasaki during the dying moments of their pre-quarterfinal biut, handing the legendary Japanese her first defeat in 83 bouts. If the first six minute

Paris 2024 Wrestling: Vinesh vs Susaki in 1st round; Nisha taken for scan

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was on Monday handed a tough draw in the Paris Olympics as she is set to open against reigning Olympic champion and four-time World Champion Yui Susaki, who is yet to lose a match in her international career. It will be a Herculean task for Vinesh to clear the first round given that she is up against the Japanese, who won the gold at Tokyo Games without conceding a single point. However, it could be a blessing in disguise also, since Susaki will be favourite to reach the final and it can open up the repechage route for Vinesh, who dropped down to women's 50kg category from 53kg weight-class. Vinesh is appearing in her third Olympics. Injured Nisha Dahiya taken for wrist scan ---------------------------------------------- Nisha Dahiya, who had made a stupendous start to her campaign in the women's 68kg class with win over Ukraine but suffered a terrible hand injury against Korea's Sol Gum Pak, had to be taken to a medical facility inside the Game

Nikhat to Satwik-Chirag: Top 10 Medal hopefuls for India in Olympics 2024

Though India's contingent is not the biggest ever at the Paris Olympics 2024, there are chances that the country's medal haul at the world's biggest sporting event might swell to 10 this time around.

Olympics 2024: What to know, who to watch during wrestling competition

A roadmap to follow for the wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics: Athletes to Watch: Hassan Yazdani, Iran: Nicknamed The Greatest, Yazdani was a gold medalist at 74 kilograms in 2016. He lost to David Taylor in the gold medal match in the 86-kilogram division in Tokyo. Taylor isn't competing in Paris, possibly clearing a way for Yazdani to return to the top. Taha Akgul, Turkey: A 2016 gold medalist, Akgul was among those who lost to American Gable Steveson at the Tokyo Games. He beat Georgia's Geno Petriashvili, the silver medalist in Tokyo, at the European Championships earlier this year. With Steveson not returning, Akgul could emerge victorious in the 125-kilogram class. Kennedy Blades, United States. The dynamic 20-year-old beat Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray at the U.S. trials and is competing in the women's 76-kilogram freestyle division. Helen Maroulis, United States. She is aiming to become the first American women's wrestler to win three Olympic medals.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia calls Nada arrogant, says he is being targeted

Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Monday alleged that NADA was targeting him for pointing out flaws in their system and vowed to challenge the arrogance of the National Anti-Doping Agency, which he claimed wants to end his sporting career. Bajrang was suspended by NADA for the second time on June 24 after the wrestler got relief from the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) of the agency. The ADDP had lifted the first suspension on the grounds that NADA had not officially charged him for doping by serving the wrestler a formal notice. NADA then issued the notice to the Tokyo Games medallist and suspended him again. "This shows how NADA is targeting me, they don't want me to continue wrestling at any cost," Bajrang posted on X. Bajrang was suspended for refusing to provide his sample during the selection trials held in Sonepat on March 10. He had lost the trials and thus missed out on the chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old multiple-time World Championship medallist

Paris Olympics 2024: Medal contender Anshu Malik suffers shoulder strain

Anshu Malik, who is a strong medal contender at the Paris Olympics, has suffered a shoulder strain during training, forcing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to seek a status report from the wrestler. Anshu had won a silver medal at the recent Ranking Series event in Budapest in the women's 57kg, losing the final to China's Kexin Hong. The 22-year-old Anshu had qualified for the Games by winning a gold medal at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in April. After the Budapest event, Anshu returned to her centre -- Mirchpur academy in Haryana -- and a week back suffered a strain on left shoulder. "During a practice session, she suffered strain and as a precautionary measure, she stopped training. She also underwent an MRI and there is nothing to worry. The scan is clean. Two days back she started training again," Anshu's father and coach Dharamveer Malik told PTI. "We will leave for Japan for a training camp in a few days," added Dharamveer. WFI President Sanja

Aman Sehrawat seals Paris 2024 Olympics quota; Deepak Punia crashes out

Sehrawat, a U23 world champion, beat Chongsong Han of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 12-2 in the semi-final for India's sixth quota in wrestling for the Paris 2024 Olympics

BJP MP Brij Bhushan charged with sexual harassment of 5 women wrestlers

A Delhi court has formally levelled charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, head of Wrestling Federation of India, for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation of 5 women wrestlers

Court to pass order on framing charges against Brij Bhushan Singh today

Singh had also placed on record the Call Detail Record of coach Vijender in relation to an alleged incident in the WFI office in New Delhi

UWW suspends Bajrang; SAI okays abroad training but wrestler cancels trip

Wrestling's world governing body UWW has suspended Bajrang Punia till the end of this year following NADA's decision to hand him a provisional suspension for refusing to undergo a dope test. However, in a rather surprising decision, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) sanctioned close to Rs nine lakh for his training abroad despite being well aware of NADA's order. Bajrang, one of the country's most successful wrestlers, was suspended by NADA on April 23 after being served a whereabouts failure notice on April 18. In his defence, the Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist said he never refused to give his sample for testing but merely asked the Dope Control Officer to explain the presence of expired kits which were brought to take his sample. Bajrang told PTI that he has not received any communication from the UWW about his suspension but the world governing body while updating its internal system clearly mentions that he stands suspended. "Suspended for the following reason until Dec 31

NADA suspends Bajrang Punia indefinitely for not giving dope sample

Punia failed to provide his urine sample for the selection trials at Sonepat on March 10, prompting NADA to issue the order suspending him from participation in any future events

Indian wrestlers to miss Asian Olympics qualifiers due to Dubai rains

In a huge setback for the Indian wrestling contingent at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek, two of the country's best wrestlers, Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalakal, will miss the continental event as they could not report for the weigh-in on time as their flight arrived late in the Kyrgyzstan capital owing to bad weather in Dubai. While both Punia and Kalkal eventually managed to reach Bishkek after being stranded at the Dubai international airport due to incessant rain and flooding, they could not report for the mandatory weigh-in on time, according to sources. The sources added that the organisers did not allow late weigh-in despite request from the Indian coaches. Punia (86kg), who had come close to winning a medal at the Tokyo Games, and Sujeet (65kg), were on their way to Bishkek to participate in the Asia Olympic qualifiers the second-last qualifying event for Paris Olympics when a majority of the flights leaving Dubai got cancelled or delayed because of the flooding of th

Indian Olympic Association dissolves ad-hoc wrestling federation committee

The Indian Olympic Association directed the Wrestling Federation of India to form a safeguarding committee for timely redressal of sexual harrasment and other abuse claims

Vinesh makes cut for Asian Olympic qualifiers after unprecedented drama

Celebrated Indian woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Monday made the cut for Asian Olympic Qualifiers in the 50kg category after being allowed to fight in an unprecedented two weight divisions during the trials where she allegedly skipped a dope test and held up proceedings for almost three hours. Phogat, who has been at the forefront of an emotionally-charged protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after accusing him of sexual harassment, defeated Shivani 11-6 to book a place in the Qualifiers to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from April 19 to 21. The 29-year-old is a two-time Olympian and an Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist. On Monday, she appeared in 50kg as well as the 53kg category trials after she apparently held up the bouts for three hours, demanding the unparalleled exception for herself. The IOA's three-member ad-hoc committee, which was in-charge of the proceedings, allowed her following several rounds of discussion. W