Some victories are sweeter than others, some defeats more bitter, whatever the arena be. But what about the cruelty of fate? How does one take heart? The vagaries of destiny are more ruthless than any opponent's blow. They also feel more personal, as if the player in the arena is an alter ego of any and all of the spectators near and far. Vinesh Phogat's Paris Olympics performance is one such instance of the blurring of these boundaries. Many of her cheerleaders today, however, ought to be ashamed of themselves. Whether they will be is anyone's guess.

Phogat has announced her retirement after being disqualified in the Paris Olympics just before her final bout. In Book 22 of the Iliad, Zeus-the king of gods-weighs the fates of Achilles and Hector before their first and final fight. Just like the scales dipped for Hector, foretelling his death, they foretold the death of Phogat's career. The past, present, and future of her sporting career weighed lighter than the weight mandates of her category. Her fate, quite literally, was decided by the wanton scales. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

It's not just a medal that Phogat lost; she lost something a lot more precious. Closure.........

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