Japanese wrestler Rei Higuchi seemed to empathize deeply with Vinesh Phogat’s pain, knowing firsthand the heartbreak she must be experiencing. Higuchi, the top-seed who claimed gold in the men’s 57kg freestyle event after defeating India’s Aman Sehrawat 10-0 in the semi-finals, had also faced a similar disappointment. He missed out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in his home country, due to being just 50 grams overweight during a critical qualification tournament.
A similar misfortune struck Vinesh Phogat when she was found to be 100 grams over the limit ahead of the women’s 50kg freestyle event. On August 7, a day that shattered the hopes of an entire nation, Vinesh was disqualified from competing in the gold medal match. She had been on the brink of making history as the first Indian wrestler and woman athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. However, her dreams were dashed when she failed to meet the weight requirement on the morning of the final round. Overwhelmed by the effort to shed 2 kilos through excessive cardio and cycling overnight, Vinesh suffered dehydration and had to be hospitalized.
In the aftermath, Vinesh, at 29, announced her retirement from wrestling. Higuchi reached out to comfort her, drawing from his own experience. He shared words of encouragement, saying, “I understand your pain the best. Same 50g. Don’t worry about the voices around you. Life goes on. Rising from setbacks is the most beautiful thing. Take a good rest.”
Higuchi’s message carried the weight of personal experience. Despite missing the Rio Olympics by just 50 grams, he found redemption by winning a gold medal, defeating USA’s Spencer Lee 4-2. His journey, marked by setbacks and ultimate triumph, served as a testament to the resilience he encouraged Vinesh to embrace.
