Vinesh Phogat Olympic Disqualification from the Olympics was nothing short of a Bollywood plotline
INDIA: Recently retired Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 50kg category. Despite her intense training and remarkable skill, Vinesh faced defeat and was disqualified from the competition due to an unexpected weight fluctuation, according to India Today.
This setback cost her the chance to become the first Indian woman to win an Olympic gold medal, a devastating blow that impacted her career deeply.
Before the Olympics, Vinesh Phogat had achieved significant success, including multiple gold medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, along with two bronze medals at the World Wrestling Championships. Unfortunately, following her defeat at the Olympics, she announced her retirement from the sport.
Although her decision to retire is heartbreaking, Vinesh’s accomplishments remain commendable, even without the Olympic gold. Coming from a family of renowned international champions, her legacy was established the moment she made her mark in the world of wrestling.
The Phogat family, consisting of four sisters and two cousins, is a celebrated lineage of wrestlers nurtured by Mahavir Singh Phogat, a distinguished Indian wrestler and senior Olympics coach. As the father and uncle to six international champions, Mahavir’s expertise in training his daughters and nieces has led them to achieve heights in wrestling that he himself could never reach.
The family’s remarkable journey began with Geeta Phogat, Mahavir’s eldest daughter, who made history in 2010 by becoming the first Indian freestyle wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. This legacy of victory was carried forward by her younger sister, Babita Phogat, a three-time Commonwealth Games medalist.
The Phogat name continued to shine through the achievements of mixed martial artist Ritu Phogat and professional wrestler Sangeeta Phogat, Geeta and Babita’s younger sisters. Their cousins, Vinesh and Priyanka Phogat, who were raised by Mahavir after their father’s passing, further solidified the family’s legacy in the wrestling world.
A Cinematic Legacy
The Phogat family’s extraordinary journey of success caught the attention of Bollywood, leading to the creation of Dangal, a 2016 biographical film that portrays Geeta and Babita Phogat’s wrestling careers through a slightly fictionalized lens. The film explores the origins of these remarkable athletes and the pivotal events that inspired their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, to steer them toward a life in wrestling.
While Dangal focuses on Geeta and Babita, leaving out the youngest sisters and cousins, it powerfully illustrates the rise of women in Indian wrestling, the societal challenges they faced, and the ultimate triumph that brought them international acclaim. Starring Aamir Khan as Mahavir, the film uses two different actors to portray Geeta and Babita at various stages of their lives, while Khan himself undergoes a dramatic transformation to depict Mahavir’s journey over time.
The narrative shines a spotlight on the unique struggles faced by women in the sport, particularly the sacrifices Geeta and Babita had to make under their father’s strict training regimen. They were compelled to forgo the comforts of their childhood, including their long, well-maintained hair, which Mahavir insisted on cutting to align with their new, disciplined lifestyle. The film also captures the societal scrutiny and judgment the sisters endured as they competed in a male-dominated arena.
Ultimately, Dangal is not just about wrestling; it’s about the broader battle these women fought against societal norms that sought to undermine them. The story brings to light the hardships female athletes face, setting the stage for the tragic outcome of Vinesh Phogat at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her defeat was more than a personal setback; it marked the heartbreaking end of the dreams of a South Asian woman who fought fiercely to claim her place in the spotlight.
