Vinesh Phogat, a.k.a political Andolanjeevi and sometimes professional Wrestler, was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024. The technical reason was a mere extra 100 grams. Yes, you read that right—100 grams. For those not in the know, that’s about the weight of a chocolate bar, a banana, or a few sips of water.
Earlier Olympics allowed a 2 kg variation but new rules in 2017 allowed no leeway on weight. Thus, her tiny weight difference exploded into a national scandal. Some political vultures are gleefully turning it into the latest BJP controversy. Somehow they think that weight scales are also politically biased! Let’s explore the 100 Gram Scandal!
Vinesh Phogat: A Tough Call
Vinesh Phogat usually dominated the 53 kg weight category. However, with climbing age and lack of required practice due to Andolans, she was beaten fair and square by a youngster in the 53 kg category trials. So, she took a bold and big risk to demand she be allowed to take a shot at for both the 50 kg class and the 53 kg class. Both these are two weight classes lower than her natural weight of 57-58 kgs.
Antim Panghal, the newly disqualified Indian Wrestler who faces disciplinary charges, won the chance to represent Bharat for the 53 kgs category. She scored a beautiful bronze in the 2023 World Wrestling Championship. Hence, she was automatically given the spot for the Olympics. Therefore, Vinesh Phogat took a sly and calculated risk.
This girl who defeated Vinesh Phogat in 20 seconds in Olympics qualifier match could not play in Olympics. Think! pic.twitter.com/p5nWmSd2eG
— Sabloktantra (@SabLokTantra) August 8, 2024
She chose to push her body to the limit and dropped 2 weight classes to win herself the spot for the 50 kg class.
First, let’s not forget, that she wasn’t exactly left to fend for herself. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stood by her despite her active Andolanjeevi status. They bowed low before her conditions and allowed her to handpick her dream team. She had her own nutritionist, an exclusive top-notch coach Woller Akos, and personal physio Ashwini Jiwan Patil. Thus, from the association’s side – everything was set for her Olympic glory.
Then came the weigh-in on Day 2. On Day 1, Vinesh had fought three bouts to secure herself a place in the finals. But, suddenly her Olympic dream was crushed by a 100-gram difference. Despite an overnight struggle of running, sweating, cutting hair, and shortening clothes, she just couldn’t shed those last few grams. And just like that, Vinesh was out of the competition. However, what ended in dry tears for the dehydrated Phogat turned into a wave of outrage swept across the nation.
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 🙏
आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी 🙏🙏
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024
Politics Of Absurdity: Witch Hunt On Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification
Now the left wing will declare Bajrang Punia an BJP IT cell member.
How shamelessly @ajitanjum putting words in his mouth. Vulture! pic.twitter.com/m0SUig2CR0
— BALA (@erbmjha) August 7, 2024
This is Bharat, where no good scandal goes to waste. Almost immediately, the Le-Li political machinery went into overdrive. On one hand, her fellow Andolanjeevi, Bajrang Punia was talking the entire night about how “some” people may have to swallow their egos to congratulate Phogat tomorrow after the finals. On the other hand, this tongue-in-cheek opportunist spoke publicly about how Phogat is fighting to keep her weight down while trying to keep up her strength.
When the news of the disqualification hit the media, his tone changed to how Vinesh Phogat did not lose but was made to lose!
Hence, this long-time aging wrestker and Andolanjeevi set up the stage for a wave of accusations!
INDI Alliance opposition leaders, with a straight face, claimed this was all a grand conspiracy. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala dramatically declared it a “black day for Indian sports,” blaming the Modi government for Phogat’s disqualification. Because clearly, the Prime Minister has nothing better to do than sabotage his country’s athletes using ‘100 grams’ as criteria.
AAP’s Sandeep Pathak joined the chorus, cryptically asking, “Who can be behind this?” A question that conveniently ignores the fact that no amount of political maneuvering can change the rules of international sports federations.
#WATCH | Congress MP Deepender Hooda offers a party seat to Vinesh Phogat. Mahavir Phogat hits back, says, "Congress has never done anything for wrestling'
Tune in to LIVE TV – https://t.co/CRfjubcuSf #VineshPhogat #Congress #MahavirPhogat pic.twitter.com/aNzRBNgecE
— Republic (@republic) August 8, 2024
The Conspiracy: Because Logic Is Overrated
Breaking!🚨
"Vinesh Phogat is not playing her first Olympics, she must take blame"
~~ Saina Nehwal, BJP Leader. #VineshPhogat #Retirement #Wrestling pic.twitter.com/8UZNgjkFnd
— Nirab (@Nirab23) August 8, 2024
Let’s break down this “conspiracy” theory. Vinesh Phogat, a seasoned athlete, missed her weight by 100 grams. This isn’t some sinister plot – it’s a common occurrence in wrestling. Weight cuts are brutal, and athletes push their bodies to the edge. Sometimes they make it; sometimes they don’t. It’s that simple.
But the opposition wants you to believe that a government conspiracy or mismanagement is at afoot.
Its an opportunate kerosene moment!
Yes, because clearly, the best way for the BJP to secure votes is to sabotage the country’s chance for Olympic Gold! Makes perfect sense if you are an INDI Alliance supporter, right?
Adding to the absurdity, Vijender Singh, the ex-boxer also turned into a conspiracy theorist. He suggested that “someone” wanted to sabotage India’s chances at the Olympics. Who this “someone” is remains a mystery – maybe it was the same person who decided to make the earth round, just to confuse flat-earthers.
पूरा देश विनेश फोगट के साथ खड़ा है। प्रधानमंत्री ने कल उन्हें "चैंपियन ऑफ चैंपियंस" कहा और प्रधानमंत्री की आवाज 140 करोड़ लोगों की आवाज है।
-राज्यसभा में विनेश फोगट पर बोलते हुए केंद्रीय मंत्री जेपी नड्डा#VineshPhogat #BJP #Olympics #News #Update #JPNadda #NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/L1FrmENZKB
— Sandesh Wahak (@sandeshwahakweb) August 8, 2024
The INDI Alliance, however, didn’t stop there. They staged protests in Parliament to demand “justice” for Phogat. Later, with no feet to stand on, they walked out in ‘protest’. Because obviously, the best way to support an athlete who’s missed weight is by turning her personal tragedy into a political spectacle.
Meanwhile, Mahavir Phogat, Vinesh’s uncle and the man who inspired the blockbuster movie Dangal, calmly dismissed the conspiracy theories. “There is no conspiracy,” he said, like a voice of reason in a sea of political noise. But who listens to reason when there’s a scandal to be milked?
Real Story: Vinesh Phogat’s Struggle From 2.7 Kgs To 100 Grams
The truth is far less dramatic. Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification was a sad day for Indian sports, not because of some imagined political plot, but because of the sheer heartbreak of a champion who couldn’t make weight by the slimmest margin. When Vinesh chose politics over sports she ended up getting social media disdain. However, when she took on the challenge to fight hard in sports for herself and the nation, every Indian supported her dream. Backed by her own hand-picked, government-paid team, Bharat supported Vinesh in her fight for Olympic Gold every step of the way.
1. Why are we not complaining to the Olympic Committee?
The IOA, recognizing her potential and somewhat justified claim at Olympic Silver Jas lodged a strong protest with United World Wrestling (UWW). The IOA President PT Usha took the matter up with the World Wrestling Federation president. This wasn’t about politics; it was about ensuring fairness in the sport. The government, too, stood by Phogat, with Prime Minister Modi offering words of encouragement, calling her a “champion among champions.”
BIG BREAKING 🚨
CAS has accepted the protest appeal against disqualification from Vinesh Phogat
The hearing will start at 5:30 PM.
Joelle Monlouis and Estelle Ivanova are lawyers for #VineshPhogat
Hopes are alive, pray for the best to GIVE VINESH SILVER 🥈🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/75xOv9PHfU
— ALBERT (@Albert_1789) August 8, 2024
2. Why did her team not declare her injured and withdraw from the game?
The Olympics 2024’s rules need the player to weigh-in even if they claim injury. Hence, Phogat was on the road to disqualification when she could not bring her weight down.
3. Why did they not cut her hair or something to bring down the last 100 grams?
Her personally chosen team as well as the IOA’s medical staff monitored her weight since the night before. Her hair was cut, and she was kept on minimum body fluids, near to dehydration. Thus, her team and the IOA’s members worked all night to reduce her 2.7 kg weight to 100 grams.
4. Can there be a small chance of any kind of conspiracy?
The Sports Ministry spent lakhs on her training despite her anti-BJP stance. Her team of coaches, her choice of weight category, and her training were guided by her own personal choices. The Indian Wrestling Federation had no hand or say in her choices. Thus, as Saina Nehwal said, Vinesh Phogat should shoulder the loss on her shoulder like a champion just as she would have shouldered the Olympic Medal.
Let’s Get Real
At the end of the day, Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification is a sports story, not a political one. It’s about the brutal nature of weight-class sports, where even a few grams can make the difference between glory and heartbreak. Turning this into a political circus does a disservice to the Athlete in Phogat. However, it may help Andolanjeevi Phogat have an easy break into politics.
Why only Rajya Sabha make her CM candidate of Haryana #VineshPhogat #Olympics https://t.co/LRNFRDrfqy
— Ankur (@_Ankur_Anand) August 8, 2024
Every nation invests in good athletes.
And every athlete pushes their limits to represent their country.
So, can the conspiracy enthusiasts please stop blaming the BJP, PM Modi, the Olympics, or the universe for this? Sometimes, 100 grams is just 100 grams – a small but significant detail in the life of a wrestler, not a grand conspiracy. As Mahavir Phogat’s words wisely imply – There is no conspiracy in Vinesh’s case, just the harsh reality of sports. Therefore, maybe, just maybe, it’s time the allegation squad of INDI Alliance listens to the man who promises to make 1000 more Vineshes in Bharat to claim medals in the future.
