Winner Vinesh

AN Olympic gold medal was well within the grasp of Vinesh Phogat, or rather, of the entire success-starved nation. And then it just slipped out, breaking 1.4 billion hearts. Within hours, the much-anticipated ecstasy turned into agony — a painful instance of so near yet so far. But the tragic turn of events does not take anything away from Vinesh’s astounding feat of coming this far, winning three bouts in a single day, including one against defending champion Yui Susaki. Medal or no medal, Vinesh has proved her mettle. When Abhinav Bindra, an Olympic gold medallist himself, says that ‘you don’t need a gold medal to be a true champion to people’, you know — and so does everyone, for that matter — how good you are. You are a winner all the way.

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Vinesh didn’t have even a moment to rest or breathe easy after her semifinal victory. She and her support staff valiantly fought a tough battle to get her weight right for the all-important weigh-in. She didn't sleep all night, she starved — it was a cruel race against time, and she lost. In the end, it all boiled down to just 100-odd grams — barely one-fifth the weight of an Olympic gold medal.

Disqualified but not disgraced — that is Vinesh’s awe-inspiring story in four words. Undefeated at the Paris Olympics, she can hold her head high, in stark contrast to Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who experienced the ignominy of being stripped of his 100m gold after failing a dope test at the 1988 Games. She is a role model in more ways than one. Her skills, stamina and strength are exemplary; even more so are her guts. Taking on a powerful politician and sexual predator for the sake of the female wrestling fraternity was an act of moral courage. At Jantar Mantar, she made it clear that her participation in the protest had one aim: to ensure that the future generation of grapplers wrestled safely and fearlessly. That fight is still on, and we know that she will not give up till justice is done. A big salute, Vinesh, to your never-say-die spirit both on the mat and off it.