So close, yet so far

With reference to the article ‘Vinesh ruled out by a hundred grams’; India’s wrestling community shares the anguish of its champion, Vinesh Phogat. The Olympic Games are a platform for athletes to crystallise their dreams into medals. Vinesh, too, was one such athlete. Sadly, even though she seemed poised for glory, she stumbled at the weigh-in, as she was found to be a few grams above the 50-kg limit. What makes it all the more heartbreaking is that she was close to clinching gold. Phogat's journey to the final, marked by her triumph over reigning world champion Yui Susaki, was nothing short of heroic. Besides, her desperate struggle to shed those extra grams by working out the whole night is a testament to the willingness of countless athletes to make huge sacrifices for their dreams.

Sahibpreet Singh, by mail

Vinesh’s resilience shone through

Apropos of the editorial ‘Winner Vinesh’; the disqualification of the ace Indian wrestler from the 50-kg category because she was overweight by over 100 grams is heartbreaking. Her journey, marked by triumph over world champions and a historic march to the finals, has inspired millions. This setback underscores the gruelling and often dangerous demands athletes face in maintaining their weight based on the requirements of the games. While the loss stings, it does not diminish her achievements. Phogat’s resilience, from taking on those at the helm of the governing body of wrestling in India to nearly clinching an Olympic gold, demonstrates her indomitable spirit. She remains a beacon of hope and strength for aspiring athletes across the nation.

Amanjot Kaur, Mohali

Net loss for India

With reference to the front-page news report ‘Unphogattable agony’; it was shocking to hear from Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya that the government had spent over a staggering Rs 74 lakh to provide the female grappler with the necessary help and support in her preparations for the Games. Her disqualification from the 50-kg category has dashed the hopes of the country for gold. On top of that, Vinesh ended up in hospital after her desperate attempt to shed those extra grams overnight failed.

Bhupinder Kochhar, Panchkula

Take her coach, team to task

Apropos of the news report ‘Sabotage vs support: Govt, Oppn wrestle it out in Parl’; the episode will go down as one of the greatest fiascos in India’s sporting history. Her disqualification came at a time when India was starving for success at the Games. It is unfortunate that Phogat had successfully navigated the tournament to reach the finals, only to be ruled out of it for being overweight by a hundred grams. This raises questions about the shortcomings of her support staff. The wrestler’s coach, nutritionist and members of her team must be held accountable for the debacle.

Anthony Henriques, Mumbai

Probe Vinesh’s weight gain

Refer to the article ‘Vinesh ruled out by a hundred grams’; the Wrestling Federation of India has pinned the blame for the grappler’s disqualification on her support staff. There is a need to conduct a thorough probe into the matter. It is not like Vinesh did not do her diligence to lose the extra grams; she worked out the entire night to shed weight before the final, but to no avail. The reason behind her weight gain needs to be ascertained. Accountability must be fixed.

Ramandeep, by mail

Instability in Bangladesh

With reference to the article ‘This is not the Bangladesh we stood for in the line of fire’; Hasina’s ouster marks the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s history. Her downfall came as a surprise only to those who had failed to see the writing on the wall. As Hasina transformed from a democrat into a dictator, she sparked an uprising that would eventually result in her flight. Instability in Bangladesh is a matter of concern for India. It remains to be seen if the people of the neighbouring country will embrace the newly formed interim government. New Delhi will be keeping tabs on its neighbourhood.

Lal Singh, Amritsar

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