Recently, Vinesh Phogat appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to find out if she was entitled to a joint-silver medal. Japanese gold medallist Rei Higuchi has backed the current weight rules, although CAS has not yet reached a ruling.
Expressing sympathy for Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics final for being 100 grams over the weight limit, Higuchi told Sportstar, "Unfortunately, the current rules prevent me from supporting that decision. I don't like the rules that require making weight for the second day, but we must follow the rules as they apply to everyone."
Previously, in response to PT Usha's comments on Vinesh Phogat's recent performance, Higuchi had highlighted the broad range of requirements needed to succeed in wrestling. "Wrestling demands strength, physicality, technique, mentality, nutrition, weight management, rest, sleep, video analysis, and a balanced approach to all these areas of training, along with the guidance of a knowledgeable and reliable coach," Higuchi had stated.
In the midst of the uproar, Vinesh declared her retirement, and Higuchi responded by posting a message on social media. "I deeply understand your pain," he wrote. It’s just a matter of 50 grams. Don’t let the criticisms affect you. Life moves forward. Overcoming challenges is the most admirable thing. Please take some time to rest."
Reflecting on his own experience, Heiguchi explained, "I felt I could empathize with the Indian athlete because I made a similar mistake—I missed the Tokyo Olympics after exceeding the weight limit at the Asian Olympic qualifiers. I gave it my all and felt the same frustration and despair. I shared this to encourage Vinesh to ignore the opinions of others and to move forward at her own pace. During my own situation, I had the support of many people, and without it, I wouldn't have been able to overcome my failure."
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