INMASTERMIND

On that distressing night before her gold-medal bout at the 2024 Olympics, a frantic Vinesh Phogat begged the doctor to remove some blood from her body. She had spent nearly half an hour inside a 98 degree Celsius sauna, but sweat droplets hadn't appeared on her badly dehydrated body. The coaches had trimmed her hair, even shortened her singlet, but still she weighed 50.1 kg - the agonising extra 100 grams that ultimately caused her disqualification refused to disappear.

Blood, sweat, a possible medical complication and even the risk of permanent internal organ damage - Vinesh had put everything on the line to have a chance at a gold
medal and history. She wasn't prepared to disappoint her country. She would receive sympathy and admiration. The legendary American wrestler Jordan Burroughs said
Vinesh deserved a silver medal and that the weight regulation needed revision.

India's leading table tennis star Manika Batra would grow emotional. "You've shown us what it means to pursue dreams with passion and dignity. India is proud to call you its
own, and we're fortunate to witness your journey," she posted on social media.

Vinesh would receive overwhelming public support, but not from those expected to stand beside her and protect her in moments of crisis. Those administering the sport
that has historically celebrated swift moves and sharp reflexes, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), almost two years after their star wrestler's unfortunate
disqualification from the Paris Olympics, would reprimand her for an alleged embarrassing act that only they perceived.