Coach Woller Akos Reveals Heartbreaking Struggle Behind Vinesh Phogat’s Paris Olympics Disqualification

Coach Woller Akos Reveals the Struggle Behind Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification Vinesh Phogat’s promising run at the Paris Olympics took a tragic turn when she was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg wrestling final for being 100 grams overweight. Despite her valiant performance in the semi-final, where she defeated the Cuban wrestler and secured her place in the final, the weight issue prevented her from competing for gold.

The Dark Night: A Coach’s Emotional Account

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Vinesh’s coach, Woller Akos, shared the intense and grueling efforts to help Phogat meet the weight requirements. According to Akos, Phogat initially had 2.7 kg of excess weight after the semi-final. Despite over an hour of exercise, she was still 1.5 kg overweight. Akos described a harrowing night where Phogat engaged in relentless cardio and wrestling drills from midnight until 5:30 a.m., falling repeatedly and spending an hour in a sauna. Akos candidly admitted to fearing for her life during this period.

The Aftermath Phogat’s Resilient Spirit and CAS Rejection

Following the disqualification, Phogat sought a silver medal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but her appeal was rejected. Despite the setback, Phogat demonstrated remarkable resilience. In a poignant exchange after returning from the hospital, Phogat reassured her coach, expressing pride in her performance and emphasizing that medals and podiums are secondary to her achievement and the validation of her wrestling prowess.

Phogat’s Final Disappointment

The disqualification left Vinesh Phogat unable to compete for a medal she had fought so hard to attain. The 100-gram excess ultimately cost her a chance at Olympic glory, highlighting the razor-thin margins that can determine the outcome in elite sports.

Phogat’s story is a testament to the extraordinary pressures and challenges faced by athletes at the highest levels of competition.