Sachin Tendulkar supports Vinesh Phogat, calls Olympic disqualification of wrestler 'illogical'

Phogat was disqualified from the Olympics as she was found 100gms above the permissible weight

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his support for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympic Games. Tendulkar shared his views on the matter via social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Every sport has rules, but those rules need to be seen in context and perhaps even revisited at times," Tendulkar wrote. "Vinesh Phogat qualified fairly for the finals. Her disqualification due to weight issues occurred before the finals, effectively robbing her of a deserved opportunity."

"It would have been understandable if an athlete were to have been disqualified for ethical breaches such at the usage of performance enhancing drugs. In that case, to not be awarded any medal and be placed last would be justifiable. However Vinesh beat her opponents fairly to reach top two. She definitely deserves a silver medal " the legendary cricketer further wrote.

"While we all wait for a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sports let us hope and pray that Vinesh gets the recognition she deserves," Tendulkar wrote to conclude his post.

On August 07, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified just hours before the women's 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday after failing to make weight, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said.

Phogat had been set to lock horns with Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal. The disqualification means she will not receive a medal of any colour.

"It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the women's wrestling 50kg class," the IOA said in a statement.

Phogat was one of several Indian wrestlers who came out in protest last year seeking criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, then chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and a part of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Singh has denied any wrongdoing following complaints by women wrestlers.