‘Whether she gets medal or not, people shouldn’t forget what she did for country’ – Neeraj Chopra hails Vinesh Phogat

India’s Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra doesn’t want people to forget Vinesh Phogat’s impeccable run in the Paris Olympics even if she doesn’t get the medal. Phogat had assured herself a medal after qualifying for the 50 kg gold medal match but things turned south when she weighed 100 grams more than the permissible weight.

As a result, according to United World Wrestling rules, she was disqualified from the Olympics and finished last in her event. Earlier, Phogat had stunned number one seed Yui Susaki in the pre-quarterfinal by 3-2. The Japanese wrestler had an 82-0 record before this match and Phogat made impossible as possible as she turned the tables with only 10 seconds to go in her bout, with Susaki leading 2-0.

“If she gets the medal, it would be very good. If things had not panned out the way they did, she would have had the medal. I hope she gets it because if you don’t have it around your neck, that thing stays in your heart,” Chopra told reporters at ‘India House’ after a felicitation by IOC member and Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani.

“Today people might say that she is our champion but they will forget after a few days. Agar aisa na hota, a medal wouldn’t have mattered. So, I hope she gets the medal. I just hope whether she gets the medal or not, people don’t forget what she did for the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has dismissed the idea of awarding two silver medals in a single category. 

“If you ask generally of having two silver medals in one category then my answer is no. There are the regulations of the International Federation that have to be followed and the International Federation, United World Wrestling was taking this decision…Looking at the federation or everybody who has to make such a decision then when and where do you make the cut? Do you say with 100 grams we give it, but with 102 grams we don’t give it anymore?… Now it’s in CAS, we will in the end follow the CAS decision. But again, the International Federation, they have to apply and interpret their rules. So this is their responsibility,” Bach told the media.

After her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat decided to retire from wrestling.