“Made an unexpected mistake despite knowing rules,” Saina Nehwal on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification
New Delhi: Amid controversy over Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal on Wednesday reacting to Phogat's disqualification stated that ‘she made an unexpected mistake despite knowing the rules on the final day.’ She reportedly said this while emphasizing the ace wrestler’s dedication. She made these comments during an interaction with NDTV, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Nehwal expressed her disappointment over Phogat's disqualification due to being overweight by 100 grams during the weigh-in for the women's 50kg freestyle event. She noted, “I was cheering for her for the last three days. Every player trains for this moment. I know what she must be feeling. There are no words to describe this as an athlete. Maybe the weight shot up. She is a fighter and has always made glorious comebacks. Next time, she will make sure a medal comes.”
Additionally, Nehwal also raised concerns about Phogat’s team of coaches and physios, questioning how such a mistake could happen at such a large level of competition. “Generally, such mistakes don't happen to any athlete at this level. How this happened is a question mark. Because she has a big team—she has so many coaches, physios, and trainers—they all must be feeling bad. I am not sure about the rules and regulations of wrestling. As an athlete, I am feeling bad.”
According to Nehwal, given Phogat’s extensive experience, “she should have anticipated and prevented such an error. It is not like she is playing her first Olympics, it's her third Olympics. As an athlete, she must know the rules. If there has been a mistake, I don't know how it happened. At such a big stage, I have not heard any such thing about any other wrestler, that they have been disqualified due to being overweight. She is an experienced athlete. Somewhere, there has been a mistake on Vinesh's part, too. She should take the blame too. Before such a big match, such a mistake is not right. She is an Asian Games champion and a Commonwealth Games champion. Because ahead of such a big match, any player will be alert that the weight should be within permissible limits. How such a mistake happened, only she or her coach can answer. But I am feeling dejected that we have missed one of the sure-shot medals."
She also highlighted that, “Phogat’s coaches should provide a clearer for why her weight was mismanaged.”
"I understand what she and her coaches are going through. They should answer now. Maybe something happened by mistake…They should be in a better position to answer about what exactly happened," she added.
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TN polls: TVK pushes DMK behind with leads in 83 seats, AIADMK ahead in 54
Chennai (PTI): New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on Monday when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly polls was on across Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK was leading in 58 seats while the ruling DMK was ahead in 34, EC data showed.
About two hours after the postal ballots were counted and EVMs opened for multi-round counting, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam surged ahead of its Dravidian rivals-- the DMK and the AIADMK, with the ruling party struggling to catch up.
If the trends maintain, Vijay could as well ensure the biggest electoral upset, something in lines with the "1967,1977" wins he had referred to in his campaign speeches.
While the Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai brought the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu post-independence in 1967, the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) installed the maiden AIADMK government 10 years later, unseating then DMK government under M Karunanidhi. TVK was leading in most Chennai segments, all considered DMK strongholds and currently represented by the party in the 234-member House.
A poor show by DMK could belie most exit polls giving an edge to it, riding on the number of populist measures Chief Minister M K Stalin had implemented in his five year "Dravidian model," inclusive governance.
According to EC and TV reports, 15 cabinet ministers, including Stalin were trailing. His son and deputy CM Udhayanidhi was also behind in his incumbent Chepauk-Tirvuvallikeni seat, according to a number of reports.
Stalin was trailing behind TVK's VS Babu by 1234 votes in Kolathur segment. Vijay was ahead in Tiruchirappalli East by over 3,000 votes at the end of two rounds of counting, according to EC data.
BJP is trailing in 26 constituencies and it is ahead in Thali segment alone. TVK is ahead in constituencies including Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, and Avadi.
AIADMK is leading in segments including Katpadi, and Guidyattam and party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is ahead in Edappadi segment by 7003 votes.
DMK was leading in segments including Vellore, Anaikattu and Rishivandiyam.
