Was Nisha Dahiya 'hurt intentionally' by North Korean? Coach Virender, fans all speak on wrestler's injury

Nisha Dahiya's quarter-final match in the women's freestyle 68kg category against Sol Gum Pak of the People's Republic of Korea at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Monday, August 5, was a heartbreaking sight for fans. Her quest for Olympic glory came to a heartbreaking end when she sustained an unfortunate hand injury. Nisha was leading her opponent 8-2 with just under a minute left in the match. However, she sustained a sudden and severe finger injury, which caused her great anguish and distress.

ALSO READ | Absolutely heartbreaking: Nisha Dahiya suffers painful injury, loses 8-10 in quarter-final bout; fans call her a 'brave fighter'

Despite the unbearable discomfort, Nisha demonstrated incredible perseverance and tenacity by continuing to compete. However, the North Korean wrestler took advantage of Nisha's injury and tied the score at 8-8. The situation deteriorated further when Nisha was heard crying out in anguish again, implying that she had suffered additional injuries, maybe to her elbow or shoulder. Her discomfort was severe, and her physical condition kept rapidly deteriorating.

In the aftermath of the match, India's national wrestling coach, Virender Dahiya, voiced serious allegations, asserting that the injury was inflicted intentionally. "It was 100 per cent intentional; they hurt her deliberately. We saw an instruction from the Korean corner. They targeted the joint. They have taken away the medal from her," national coach Virender Dahiya told PTI.

"The way Nisha had started, the medal was within her grasp, and it has been taken away. The attacks were clear, the counter-attack worked, and the defence was compact. She had beaten the same wrestler at the Asian Qualifier; there was no way Nisha was losing this."

Many fans have shared the coach's comments, claiming that the injury was purposeful and inflicted on purpose.

She was sent to a medical facility within the Games Village for a scan. If she had been fit, she might have had a chance to win the medal in the repechage if the Korean advanced to the final. However, it appears Pak lost her match, and the degree of Nisha's injury is unknown.

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