Idioms and phrases used in the editorial- Up but out: On Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic campaign

Idioms and phrases used in the editorial- Up but out: On Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic campaign

It proved to be a tale of so near and yet so far for Vinesh Phogat on a sombre Wednesday in Paris. The 29-year-old wrestler with roots in Haryana was in red-hot form and seemingly the force was with her in the women’s 50kg segment. However, hours before the summit clash against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States, Vinesh’s Olympic dreams of winning a gold fizzled out. In the acutely razor-sharp lines that distinguish weight categories especially in combat sport, India’s ace wrestler was found to be 100 grams above the stipulated 50kg at the 7.15 a.m. mandatory weigh-in before the final bout. This was heartbreak of the extreme kind for the athlete and the funereal effect rippled through an expectant nation hoping for a gold or at least a silver. Having weighed 49.90kg on Tuesday morning, Vinesh acquired a massive halo through the day, toppling defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan and eventually getting past Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semifinal. At the mixed media zone, Vinesh waved to the scribes but refrained from having a chat. The alarm bells, though, were ringing loud and clear within the Indian contingent as Vinesh and her support staff were conscious about her latest weight being 52.7kg.

The ensuing night was all about pursuing a crash course in losing extra kilos. Extreme measures such as starvation, water being ignored, frenetic exercises and induced nausea were all attempted. Even insomnia occurred and still the weighing machine did not budge on Wednesday morning. With an original body weight of around 55kg, it was extraordinary that Vinesh even attempted to compete in the 50kg bout after finding her regular 53kg category spot resting with the emerging Antim Panghal. The United World Wrestling, the sport’s governing body, is clear about the rules pertaining to body weight: if an athlete fails the weigh-in, he or she will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last. In the larger scheme, Vinesh’s charge towards the victor’s podium, even if it culminated in despair, was seen as a metaphor for a larger battle that she and other wrestlers waged against the former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The allegations of sexual harassment centered around Brij Bhushan cleaved India’s sporting heart; but an administrative system leaning on patriarchy, rebuffed the wrestlers before attempting a belated clean-up. Seen through that prism, the overwhelming angst over Vinesh’s exit is understandable. Rules are sacrosanct, and Vinesh found herself at the wrong end and her retirement announcement has left Indian sport poorer, while she still awaits the verdict of the authorities over her appeal for a joint silver medal consideration.

So near and yet so far

• Meaning: Achieving almost everything required for success but falling short at the last moment.
• Example: "The team reached the finals, but they lost in the last minute—so near and yet so far."

Red-hot form

• Meaning: Performing exceptionally well, being in excellent shape or condition.
• Example: "The athlete has been in red-hot form this season, winning all her matches."

Summit clash

• Meaning: The final and most important match or competition.
• Example: "The summit clash between the two top teams will determine the champion."

Fizzle out

• Meaning: To fail or end weakly after a promising start.
• Example: "The project started with great enthusiasm but eventually fizzled out due to lack of funding."

Razor-sharp

• Meaning: Extremely precise, accurate, or intense.
• Example: "Her razor-sharp intellect made her the best candidate for the job."

Heartbreak of the extreme kind

• Meaning: A situation causing intense emotional pain or disappointment.
• Example: "Losing the final match by a single point was heartbreak of the extreme kind for the team."

Crash course

• Meaning: An intensive and rapid course of study or training.
• Example: "Before his job interview, he took a crash course in the company’s products and services."

Frenetic exercises

• Meaning: Very energetic and fast-paced physical activities, often done in a hurried manner.
• Example: "She engaged in frenetic exercises to lose weight quickly before the competition."

Victors' podium

• Meaning: The platform where the winners of a competition receive their medals.
• Example: "Standing on the victors' podium was a dream come true for the young athlete."

Metaphor for a larger battle

• Meaning: A situation that symbolically represents a more significant or broader struggle.
• Example: "Her fight against illness became a metaphor for the challenges we all face in life."

Angst

• Meaning: A feeling of deep anxiety or dread, often about the state of the world or a particular situation.
• Example: "The angst over the future of the economy was palpable among the business leaders."

At the wrong end

• Meaning: In an unfavorable or disadvantageous position.
• Example: "Despite his hard work, he found himself at the wrong end of the company’s restructuring."

Leaning on patriarchy

• Meaning: Relying on or supporting a male-dominated system or structure.
• Example: "The organization’s policies were criticized for leaning on patriarchy and ignoring gender equality."

Belated clean-up

• Meaning: A delayed attempt to rectify or correct a situation, often after significant damage has occurred.
• Example: "The government’s belated clean-up of the contaminated site came too late for many residents."

Rules are sacrosanct

• Meaning: Rules are considered sacred and must be followed without exception.
• Example: "In this organization, the safety protocols are sacrosanct and cannot be ignored.

  Funereal effect

  • Meaning: A mood or atmosphere of solemnity and sorrow, similar to that at a funeral.
  • Example: "The news of the tragedy cast a funereal effect over the entire community."

  Cleaved India’s sporting heart

  • Meaning: Caused deep emotional pain or division within the sporting community in India.
  • Example: "The scandal cleaved the nation's sporting heart, leaving fans disillusioned."