Indian women's wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced a disappointing setback in her Olympic journey as she was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle final at the Tokyo Games. Phogat's disqualification came after she failed to make weight and was subsequently hospitalized for "severe dehydration."

Despite her impressive performance in the semifinals on Tuesday, defeating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzmán Lopez, Phogat was unable to meet the 50kg weight requirement for the final. This led to her opponent, Cuba's Guzmán Lopez, replacing her in the gold medal match against the United States' Sarah Hildebrandt.

Phogat, who typically competes in the 53kg weight class, reportedly weighed just a few grams over the limit on Wednesday morning. Her team made various efforts throughout the night to reduce her weight, including cutting her hair, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.

After her failed weight measurement, Phogat was immediately administered intravenous fluids and hospitalized. The Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha assured that Phogat was medically stable but understandably disappointed at missing out on the opportunity to compete for the gold.

This disqualification was a significant blow to Phogat, who had made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final. Her remarkable journey to the final included a stunning upset of Japan's four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Sasaki, who had never previously been defeated in international competition. Phogat also won her quarterfinal match against Ukraine's Oksana Livach before securing her spot in the final with a victory over Guzmán Lopez.

The 30-year-old American wrestler, Sarah Hildebrandt, will now face Guzmán Lopez for the gold medal. Hildebrandt, who won bronze in the event at the previous Olympic Games in Tokyo, emerged victorious in the semifinals against Mongolia's Otgonjargal Dolgorjav.

Phogat's disqualification sparked widespread support from Indian celebrities, fellow athletes, and wrestling enthusiasts on social media. Abhinav Bindra, who won gold in sport shooting for India at the 2008 Games, expressed his disappointment over Phogat's misfortune, emphasizing that she was still a champion in the eyes of the people.

Although India's wrestling federation appealed the decision, the international governing body of the sport, United World Wrestling, firmly stated that the rules had to be respected. Nenad Lalovic, the head of United World Wrestling, expressed his sadness over Phogat's situation but emphasized the importance of weight regulations for fair competition.

With Phogat's disqualification, the bronze medal matches in the 50kg class will feature China's Feng Ziqi against Mongolia's Otgonjargal Dolgorjav, and Japan's Yui Sasaki against Ukraine's Oksana Livach.

While this setback was undoubtedly disappointing for Phogat, her remarkable achievements at the Tokyo Games are a testament to her talent and determination. As the Paris Olympics 2024 approach, fans eagerly await Phogat's future endeavors and hope to see her continue to shine on the wrestling mat.