“I think it might be sabotage…” Vijender Singh points fingers at the IOC for Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification

New Delhi: Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg weight category has sent shockwaves in the entire sporting world. After winning her semifinal bout 5-0, Phogat had a clear shot at winning the gold medal match.

IANS Exclusive

Watch: On Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from Paris Olympics 2024, Boxer Vijender Singh says, "I have participated in three Olympics and I talked to my wrestler friends, they said that it is not right to be removed because of extra 100 grams of… pic.twitter.com/fYxAzp7N5x

— IANS (@ians_india) August 7, 2024

However, in a shocking development, the Indian grappler was disqualified owing to a failed weigh-in test before the finals. Phogat’s disqualification has led to widespread protests from the netizens. Now, Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh has made sweeping remarks on the same issue criticising the International Olympic Committee for the biased decision.

“I think it might be sabotage…” Vijender Singh points fingers at the IOC

In a recent statement by the boxer Vijender Singh, the Olympic bronze medalist remarked that 100 gm is too little for an athlete of the stature of an Olympic athlete. Singh further added, “It is difficult no doubt but we know how to control our hunger, thirst, and exert to the extreme.” Singh also hinted that there is a greater ‘conspiracy’ to dismantle the professional career of Phogat by those people ‘who are not happy’ to see India and Vinesh’s rise on the world stage.

Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who is with the Indian contingent in Paris, and IOA president PT Usha explain all the drastic measures that were taken to bring #VineshPhogat's weight to under 50kg, but went in vain.

She is getting treatment for dehydration at the local Olympic hospital.… pic.twitter.com/JL7k12ouXm

— TOI Sports (@toisports) August 7, 2024

Vinesh Phogat has been through a lot, from facing police brutality to enduring back-to-back setbacks in Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016, the Haryana girl has seen it all. Her Paris campaign was also highlighted by the fact that she defeated the Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki and her quarterfinal bout. Therefore, Singh feels that such a seasoned wrestler can never commit such a silly mistake which leads to her disqualification.

VIJENDER SINGH BOXER

This is some big conspiracy against our wrestlers and India….She should have been given some time to drop those 100 grams. We have never seen this before for any athlete.#INDIAAlliance #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/UviasCUJFh

— Anindya Das (@AnindyaDas1) August 7, 2024

Currently, Vinesh is undergoing medical recovery after she was dehydrated due to long hours of absence from food and water.

Where to watch the Paris Olympics 2024?

Media outlet Viacom18 has acquired exclusive rights to stream the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Paris Olympics 2024 will be telecasted live on the Sports18 networks. The various languages in which the viewers can avail the benefit of the telecast of the Olympics are as follows:

• Sports18 1- English, Tamil and Telegu
• Sports18 2- Hindi

Fans can also watch the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 for free on the OTT on Jio Cinema across multiple languages.