‘My dreams are shattered’: Concerning photos emerge of disqualified Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat

The athlete has since been hospitalised after the worrying photos emerged on social media after her shock disqualification.

Phogat was left heartbroken by the decision. Picture: X

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become involved in a major wrestling disqualification storm at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as distressing photos of Vinesh Phogat emerged on social media.

Phogat was left heartbroken after being sensationally disqualified before her gold medal fight after weighing just 100 grams over the 50kg weight limit.

The 29-year-old spent the entire night before the fight exercising, using a sauna and even cut her hair to make the weight.

Photos have now emerged on social media of what appears to be Phogat sitting down against a wall, putting her head in her lap.

The photos has now been viewed more than 1.6 million times. Picture: X

Vinesh Phogat celebrates victory against Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Team Cuba in the semi-final. Picture: Getty

She has since been hospitalised and put on an IV drip.

After the match, the wrestler announced she was retiring.

“Wrestling won and I lost. My dreams are shattered. I don’t have any more strength,” Phogat wrote on X.

“Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all. I am sorry.”

The Indian Prime Minister has now intervened in the issue, insisting in a phone call to the Indian Olympic Association for an appeal to be lodged to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, local media has reported.

The IOA’s appeal asks for Phogat to be awarded the silver medal.

Modi also took to social media in support of Phogat.

“Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian,” he wrote.

“Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on.

“Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you.”

Phogat would have come up against Team USA for the gold. Picture: Getty

World bronze medallist Phogat has a huge profile in her 1.4 billion-strong homeland.

She was in the public eye for months last year as part of a long-running protest against the then-chief of Indian wrestling when he was embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal.

She shocked the world in her first appearance in Paris, upsetting defending gold medallist Yui Susaki from Japan, who triumphed in Tokyo without dropping a single point and had an 82-0 record at senior international level.

Phogat then won her quarterfinal and semi-final matches against Ukrainian and Cuban opponents and was due to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal before being disqualified.

Phogat has a huge following in India. Picture: Getty

Phogat helped lead a weeks-long sit-in protest in New Delhi last year against then-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at the time a politician from Modi’s ruling party.

Singh is being tried on accusations of groping female athletes and demanding sexual favours from them – charges he denied.

Wrestling is hugely popular in rural northern India and images of Phogat and other athletes being detained as they tried to march to parliament during the protest went viral on social media.

“Vinesh you are a gold medallist of courage and morality,” Bajrang Punia, a fellow leader of last year’s protests, and a Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, said on social media.

“You have fought with grit,” he added. “Nobody wants to believe what happened this morning.”

Originally published as ‘My dreams are shattered’: Concerning photos emerge of disqualified Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat