Sreejesh Defends Disqualified Wrestler Vinesh Phogat

PR Sreejesh, the retired Indian hockey goalkeeper, has expressed strong support for wrestler Vinesh Phogat, asserting that she deserves a medal after her disqualification from the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to being 100 grams over weight. Sreejesh, who recently won his second consecutive Olympic bronze medal, emphasized the emotional toll this incident has on athletes, sharing his encounter with Vinesh where she masked her pain with a smile. Vinesh had made history by defeating the world No. 1 in her opening match before the disqualification, and she is now appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal alongside Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez. Sreejesh noted that while Vinesh's situation highlights the harsh realities of Olympic regulations, it should serve as a lesson for all athletes to be vigilant about their weight categories. The CAS verdict on Vinesh's appeal is expected on August 16, 2024.