R Ashwin on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his disappointment on Vinesh Phogat getting disqualified from the 50kg wrestling category final at the Paris Olympics. Phogat was heartbreakingly disqualified due to being 100 grams overweight on the day of the final. Despite tireless efforts from Phogat and her support team, including physios, doctors, and dieticians, they were unable to meet the weight requirement in the required time.

In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed deep sorrow for Phogat’s ordeal. He also acknowledged the numerous challenges faced by the wrestler in her journey.

“It is a very sad thing. Four years, eight years. It is meditation. It is a ritual for Olympic athletes. They have been there for so many years. She would have brought a medal back. She would have brought a lot of medals to our country. She has faced a lot of difficulties. Now, she has retired. It is highly heartbreaking for Vinesh Phogat,” Ashwin said in the video.

Devastated by her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport. After the wrestler’s announcement, several former Indian cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, expressed their support for the athlete.