The nation’s heart was shattered today when news broke of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024. In a heart-wrenching twist, Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg wrestling category for being 100 grams overweight. The emotional toll was so severe that Phogat was left unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital. Her disqualification marks another chapter in the long list of Indian athletes who have faced devastating disappointments on the Olympic stage.
Milkha Singh
Indians have a particular place in their hearts for Milkha Singh, also referred to as the “Flying Sikh,” because of his incredible strength and speed. In the 400-meter race at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Singh was a serious competitor. He finished fourth, just missing out on a bronze medal despite his best efforts. Given that Singh’s performance was viewed as a beacon of hope for Indian sports, his near miss was a serious setback. His tale serves as a moving reminder of India’s near-olympic success.
PT Usha
PT Usha, who is often referred to as the “Golden Girl,” tragically missed out on a medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Usha just missed the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles final by 1/100th of a second. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular, and the country as a whole was emotionally affected by her narrow loss. Usha’s near-miss is evidence of both her extraordinary talent and the frequently unpredictable nature of sports competition.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, two Indian tennis players, had great expectations for their performance in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Even with their outstanding performance and solid chemistry, they missed the podium. They had a strong start and high hopes, so their dismal finish was a major letdown. Their narrative serves as a reminder of how near Indian athletes have been to winning an Olympic medal.
Joydeep Karmakar
Joydeep Karmakar’s participation in the Olympic shooting event in London in 2012 was a tale of tenacity and close victory. In the men’s 50-meter rifle-prone event, Karmakar came up just short of taking home the bronze medal. Although his performance was praiseworthy, he was really disappointed to lose out on a medal by such a narrow margin.
Dipa Karmakar
As the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympics, Dipa Karmakar made history. She performed brilliantly in the vault event final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, taking fourth place. Karmakar was only 0.15 points away from winning an Olympic medal. She was devastated by her near-miss, especially in light of how far she had come to get to the finals. Although Karmakar’s performance made Indian gymnasts proud, her narrow defeat served as a sobering reminder of how close she was to taking home a medal.
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