THE 100GMS THAT CHANGED VINESH'S DESTINY

We've all heard the name Vinesh Phogat, the trailblazing Indian wrestler who became the first Indian woman to make it into a wrestling final at the Olympics. The day that was supposed to be a “golden” one for India, turned into a nightmare that no one saw coming.

Picture this: after beating the 5-time World Champion and reigning Olympic champ Yui Susaki—a wrestler who hadn’t lost a match in 94 bouts—Vinesh was on top of the world. She was the powerhouse, the legend, and India’s next gold medalist. But the night before the finals, something went horribly wrong.

Vinesh weighed in 2.7 kgs over her weight category. Yes, you read that right -- 2.7 kg. The day before, she was perfectly within range at 49.9 kgs, but after the semi-finals, her weight spiked to 52.6 kgs. Normally, this isn't too surprising for wrestlers; they usually have a 1-2 kg margin and cut down by sweating it out, avoiding fluids, and practically starving themselves. But this time, even after exhausting every trick in the book—including drawing blood and cutting her hair—Vinesh couldn’t get below 50.1 kgs. And according to UWW rules, if you don’t hit your weight target, you're disqualified and placed at the very bottom of the rankings. Brutal, right?

So, how did it all go so wrong? Vinesh had three intense bouts on Day 1, which left her completely drained. Naturally, she had to refuel with fluids and some food. But because her natural weight is around 56-57 kgs, even a little food caused her weight to skyrocket by 2.7 kgs after the semi-finals. The finals were held on Day 2, meaning she had only 12 hours to shed those extra kilos—a task that proved impossible.

And here’s where the controversy kicks in: What about the support staff? The nutritionists? The trainers? Shouldn’t someone have been watching those numbers closely? While conspiracy theories are swirling around, let’s not forget that Vinesh is a fighter both on and off the mats. She was the one to protest against the sexual harassment by the former president of the Indian wrestling federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, even sleeping on the streets for 40 days. If there were anything fishy going on, Vinesh would’ve been the first to speak out.

But let’s dig deeper: What could’ve gone wrong?

1. Change of Weight Category: Vinesh has been through a lot over the past year, from protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to missing the Asian Games due to a knee ligament injury. Previously competing in the 53kg category, she had to switch back to 50kgs when rising star Antim Panghal took the Olympic quota for the higher weight class. This switch, coupled with a lack of practice, made it a whole new ball game for Vinesh and her support team.

   
   

2. Lack of Time: The wrestling event was stretched over two days, requiring Vinesh to weigh in twice. After three gruelling bouts on Day 1, she had just 12 hours to shed the extra kilos. Had there been more time, maybe—just maybe—things could’ve been different.

   
   

So, was it just bad luck, or was something more at play? Vinesh has announced her retirement from wrestling, and while it’s heartbreaking, it’s a decision I 100% respect. She’s been through more than most could handle and is an inspiration to millions out there, and it’s time she takes a break—not just for her body, but for her mind.

“Maybe the 100 gms is the invisible medal Vinesh has been wearing all this while” - Source ( Online) - This truly shows the impact she’s had on our country.

Now, we want to hear from you. Who’s really at fault here—Vinesh or the support staff? Was this just an unfortunate turn of events, or is there something more sinister behind the scenes?

Poll:

• Vinesh’s Fault: Was the weight issue something she could’ve controlled?

• Support Staff: Did they drop the ball when it mattered most?

• Bad Luck: Sometimes, things just don’t go your way.

  
  

Let’s get the conversation started. After all, Vinesh Phogat might’ve been stolen of her gold, but her spirit remains undefeated. What do you think?