Legendary Indian hockey player PR Sreejesh has expressed deep sympathy for wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics, costing her a historic silver medal. Vinesh, who had already made history by becoming the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final, was stripped of her medal opportunity after being found 100 grams over the permissible weight limit on the morning of her gold-medal bout.
“Medal Deserved, but Snatched Away”
Speaking in an interaction, Sreejesh, who is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest hockey goalkeepers, shared his thoughts on Vinesh’s disqualification. “There are two views,” he said. “As an athlete, she deserved a medal—getting into the final, they snatched it from her. She was strong. If I were in her situation, I don’t know what I would have done.”
Vinesh’s case is currently under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where she has requested a shared silver medal. While the hearing took place on August 9, the verdict has been deferred twice, with the next update expected on August 16.
Painful encounter before Bronze-Medal match
PR Sreejesh, who retired after winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, recalled meeting Vinesh on the day of India’s bronze-medal hockey match against Spain. “The next day before our bronze medal match, I met her and she said, ‘Bhai, good luck, play well.’ I felt like she was hiding her pain with that smile. She is a real fighter.”
Lesson for all Indian Athletes
PR Sreejesh, known as the “Great Wall of India” for his stellar goalkeeping, emphasized that Vinesh’s experience should serve as a lesson for all Indian athletes. “The second part is just different because you have Olympic rules, and the Indian athletes know what is happening there, and they should be ready for that. They shouldn’t give any chance to the federation, to the organizing committee, to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”
He cited a similar experience from his own sport, where Indian hockey player Amit Rohidas was banned for raising his stick in a quarter-final match against Great Britain, forcing India to play with ten men for 42 minutes. “The rules are made to make the game beautiful and controlled,” Sreejesh explained.
“Fingers Crossed” for Vinesh Phogat
Sreejesh expressed his heartfelt support for Vinesh as she awaits the CAS verdict. “I am keeping my fingers crossed. Being an athlete, I just wish well for her. The way she worked hard, we know what she had been through in the last year, and from there, she came back, qualifying for the Olympics final. That is an answer for all. I really felt bad for her—it’s a tough situation.”
As the sports community watches and waits, Vinesh Phogat’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the thin line between victory and heartbreak in the world of sports, where even the smallest misstep can have monumental consequences.
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