Olympic triumph to torment for Indian wrestler who led anti-sexual harassment protests

An Olympic story of hope and perseverance quickly turned to one of heartbreak after an Indian wrestler known for her role in anti-sexual harassment protests was disqualified from the gold medal match of the womens 50kg freestyle category.. . Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final, did not make the weight required to compete Wednesday morning, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said.. ..

Before the latest cruel twist of fate, she had appeared guaranteed to come away from the Paris Olympics with either a gold or silver medal in a remarkable tale of overcoming adversity.. . Phogat, a three-time Olympian who comes from a prominent Indian wrestling family, was set to face Team USAs Sarah Hildebrandt in Wednesdays final.. ..

Her journey had included one of the most stunning upsets of the Games so far when she beat reigning Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki in a dramatic first-round bout.. . Sasaki, who was widely touted as the best pound-for-pound freestyle wrestler in the world, had never lost a fight at the senior level and during the last Olympics in Tokyo did not even drop a point on her way to gold.. ..

In January 2023, Phogat and other leading wrestlers wroteto the head of the Indian Olympic Association in a letterposted to X, demanding an inquiry into claims of sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a powerful politician from Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.. ..

But after months went by with little apparent action, Phogat and the other wrestlers took to the streets again, camping out for weeks in protests that became a flashpoint of criticism against Indias ruling establishment and ended in bitter clashes with police.. ..

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