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| - Fact Check: Sangeeta Phogat lost 10-0 to a US wrestler but later won the Bronze Medal
While Phogat faced an initial defeat in the Hungary Ranking Series, she later secured a bronze medal. Claims suggesting a complete loss are misleading.
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India Today Fact Check
Phogat did begin with a defeat against America’s Page Rogers in the Hungary Ranking Series wrestling event that was held on July 15. However, she later won two matches and eventually the bronze medal.
On July 15, Sangeeta Phogat, one of the wrestlers who protested against the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, suffered a 10-0 defeat against the US’s Jennifer Page Rogers during a wrestling event in Budapest, Hungary. In its aftermath, many criticised Phogat, taunting her participation in the protests. However, she also won two other matches in the event and even scored the bronze medal.
Despite that, even on July 18, social media was abuzz with posts mocking her loss against Page Rogers. Many of these posts also contained a photo of Phogat and Page Rogers, where a referee could be seen raising the latter’s hand in victory.
These posts, of course, were misleading. So, let’s look at what exactly went down.
Our Probe
According to a PTI report, Phogat began with a defeat by fall against Page Rogers in the 59 kg category at the Budapest Ranking Series 2023 held on July 15. However, she later made a comeback and won the bronze medal in the event.
Mint’s report stated that although Phogat faced initial setbacks in the tournament, she bounced back with a resounding victory over another American wrestler, Brenda Olivia Reyna, in the third round. In the semifinals, Phogat suffered a 6-4 defeat to Magdalena Urszula Glodek of Poland and entered the bronze medal match. She won the bronze playoff with a score of 6-2 against Viktoria Borsos, the U-20 World Championship silver medalist from Hungary. All of Phogat’s matches at the Hungary Ranking Series were held on July 15.
The results and videos of each round are available on the website of the United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling. The photo of Phogat and Page Rogers shared in the viral posts can be corroborated with the video footage of their round one match available here.
India Today also reached out to Jagminder Singh, the former chief national wrestling coach of India. He clarified that Phogat won the bronze medal through a repechage match. He said that in wrestling competitions, the bronze medal is often awarded through the repechage system.
“This system provides an opportunity for wrestlers who lost in the pre-quarterfinals or later rounds to make a comeback and compete for bronze medals. However, a wrestler can participate in a repechage match only if the opponent they lost to reaches the final," he explained. Ranking series events, such as the one in question, hold significance for wrestlers as they earn points that determine their seedings in major competitions like the World Championships.
After winning the bronze medal, Phogat took to Twitter on July 15 night and wrote: “Messages of congratulations from all of you are reaching me, I am very emotional at this moment. Many thanks to all of you. This medal is not only mine but yours as well. I dedicate this medal to all the fighting women of the world who are fighting against crimes against women."
Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Spots also tweeted congratulating Phogat.
It is hence clear that while Phogat did experience a defeat against America's Page Rogers, she later won the bronze medal in the same wrestling event.
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