Former Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper feels that Vinesh Phogat deserves a medal after reaching the finals of the women's 50kg wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024. ADVERTISEMENT Phogat was disqualified from the competition after being overweight by 100 grams. PR Sreejesh who won his second bronze medal at the Games stated that he could not even imagine himself in Vinesh Phogat's place.
She scripted history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first women's wrestler to seal the Olympics' final berth. She defeated World No. 1 Yui Susaki of Japan but was disqualified for being overweight.
Following the matter, Vinesh raised an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to award her at least a joint silver medal. along with Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez. The Indian wrestler handed over the Cuban a defeat in the semi-final but was replaced following the disqualification.
The court's decision has been delayed till August 16. "There are two views, one being an athlete she deserves a medal, getting into the final, they snatched it from her, silver for sure. She was strong.
If I was in her situation, I don't what I would have done," Sreejesh said at an interaction with PTI editors at its headquarters here on Tuesday. "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." Sreejesh, 36, who won back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in his glorious 18-year.