Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha call Vinesh Phogat ‘gold’ after disqualification; Swara Bhasker asks, ‘Who believes this 100 grams overweight story?’
Vinesh Phogat’s dream of an Olympic medal was snatched away just moments before it could turn into reality. The Indian wrestling sensation was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 final as she could not make the weight on the morning of her 50 kg gold medal bout. On Tuesday, Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final round of the competition. According to competition rules, Phogat will not be eligible even for a silver medal.
Social media erupted with outrage and disbelief following the disheartening news. Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, and Sonakshi Sinha expressed their solidarity with Vinesh, hailing her as a ‘champion’ regardless of the outcome. Swara Bhasker and Huma Qureshi questioned the “100 grams overweight” explanation on Twitter, demanding answers and support for the distraught athlete. “Who believes this 100 grams overweight story???” Swara tweeted. Huma Qureshi also expressed, “Please tell me something can be done. They have to let her fight @Phogat_Vinesh @Olympics @OGQ_India @IndianOlympians.”
Alia Bhatt expressed her heartbreak on Instagram Stories, calling Vinesh an “inspiration to the entire nation” whose “resilience, courage, and hardships” cannot be diminished. “Nothing can take away your resilience, nothing can take away your courage and nothing can take away the hardships you’ve been through to create history! Today you must be heartbroken to say the least and we are heartbroken with you. But woman you are gold- you are iron and you are steel! Nothing can take that away from you! A champion for the ages! There is no one like you,” Alia wrote in a heartfelt note. Sonakshi Sinha took to her Instagram Stories and wrote, “Unbelievable! I cannot imagine how you are feeling now and don’t know what to say except you were, are and will always will be a champion.”
Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar echoed the sentiment, sharing a photo of Vinesh and admitting the nation’s collective pain. “Dear @vineshphogat .. One can only try and imagine how devastated you must be but still not fully understand. Heartbroken for you that the quest ended like this. But please know that we are all very proud of you and all you have done for the sport. You will always be a champion and an inspiration to millions. Keep your chin up.” His sister and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar called her a “champion.” “You are gold! What you have achieved is beyond medals,” wrote the Gully Boy director while Dia Mirza, joining the chorus of support, lauded Vinesh as a “champion.”
Vicky Kaushal also took to his Instagram Stories and shared a report of the wrestler’s disqualification and wrote, “A winner beyond medals!.”
Earlier in the day, veteran actor and BJP leader, Hema Malini, reacting to Vignesh’s disqualification, told PTI, “It is very surprising, and it feels strange that she was disqualified for being 100 gm overweight. Iss hum sabhi kalakaron aur mahilaon ko seekh acchi leni chahiye (It is important to keep the weight in check. It is a lesson for all of us, women and artists). 100 gm also matters a lot. I wish she would lose that 100 gm quickly but she would not get an opportunity.
The details of Vinesh’s ordeal are as heartbreaking as they are shocking. To make the weight category, she reportedly went without sleep, subjecting herself to grueling exercise. Tragically, she fainted from dehydration immediately after the disqualification and was rushed to hospital.
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