Indian wrestler Nisha Dahiya was on the cusp of securing a fourth medal for her nation at the Paris Olympics, having made an impressive start in the 68kg freestyle wrestling category. She initially dominated her opening match against Ukraine’s Sova Rizhko, winning 6-4. As she progressed to the quarterfinals, Dahiya extended her lead to seven points against North Korea’s Pak Sol-gum, coming close to securing a semifinal spot in her Olympic debut. However, an unexpected injury dashed her hopes of clinching an Olympic medal.

Stunning Start and Devastating Injury

Dahiya quickly built an 8-1 lead over the North Korean competitor. Unfortunately, the momentum was halted when she sustained an injury to her arm and hand, causing her considerable pain and distress. Medical personnel on-site identified the issue as a finger injury on her right hand, with two fingers taped to stabilize the damage before she could resume wrestling.

Despite her resilience, the injury severely impacted her performance. With just 33 seconds remaining and Dahiya holding an 8-2 advantage, the match was interrupted again. When the bout resumed, Pak Sol-gum managed to score six points rapidly, leveling the score. With only 12 seconds left, Dahiya’s shoulder was treated during another stoppage. Pak took advantage of the situation, executing a decisive takedown with seven seconds remaining to win 10-8 and secure her place in the semifinals.

Emotional Fallout and Controversy

In the aftermath, Dahiya was left devastated, breaking down in tears. She was promptly transported to a medical facility within the Games Village for further examination. The injury not

Indian national team coach Virender Dahiya suggested that the injury might have been intentional. In a post-match statement to news agency PTI, he accused the North Korean team of deliberately injuring Dahiya to gain a competitive edge. “It was 100 percent intentional; they hurt her on purpose. We observed instructions from the Korean corner aimed at injuring her joint. They deprived her of the medal,” he claimed.

Dahiya’s coach emphasized that the medal was within reach before the injury. “Given how Nisha started, the medal was hers. The attacks and counter-attacks were precise, and her defense was strong. She had previously defeated this wrestler at the Asian Qualifier; there was no indication that she would lose,” he asserted.

Slim Hope for Repechage and Final Outcome

Despite the setback, there was a slim chance for Dahiya to still compete for a medal if Pak Sol-gum defeated American wrestler Amit Elor in the semifinals. However, Elor delivered a dominant performance, defeating Pak 10-0 in under two minutes, thus advancing to the final.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) later confirmed that Dahiya had suffered a severe shoulder injury. In a statement, they indicated that an MRI and further tests would be necessary to determine the treatment plan. “Wrestler Nisha sustained a significant shoulder injury during her bout today, requiring reduction and MRI. She has been ruled out of the competition. Further treatment will be planned following additional tests,” the IOA reported.

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