Wrestlers' Poor Performance Due to Protests

Sanjay Singh, a representative of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has attributed the country's disappointing medal tally in wrestling at the Paris Olympics to the prolonged protests by wrestlers. Singh claimed that India could have secured six medals in wrestling alone if not for the disruptions and controversies that plagued the sport over the past 15 to 16 months. He emphasized that the lack of preparation during this period severely impacted the athletes' performance. In a media statement, Singh noted that the wrestling community faced significant challenges due to the protests, which hindered training and participation in national and international competitions. He pointed out that the previous Olympics saw India win two medals, while this time only one medal was achieved, courtesy of wrestler Aman Sehrawat. Other competitors, including Anshu Malik and Nisha Dahiya, struggled to make an impact, reflecting the adverse effects of the unrest on their performance. Out of the six medals won by India at the Paris Olympics, the wrestling contingent managed to secure just one. Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from her event, is awaiting a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding her appeal for a silver medal. The CAS verdict, initially expected on August 13, is now set for August 16, as Phogat seeks to contest her disqualification in the gold medal bout against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States.