Vinesh Phogat's coach and support staff cut her hair, tried to draw out blood to reduce weight: Report

Vinesh Phogat reportedly jogged, skipped, and cycled through the night to shed the extra weight. (Image credit: Reuters)

Vinesh Phogat was hospitalised in Paris on Wednesday after she fainted due to dehydration. The incident happened minutes after she was disqualified from the women's 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics, India Today reported.

The 29-year-old wrestler had reportedly spent Tuesday night skipping, jogging, and cycling to shed the extra 2kg she had gained after replenishing herself following three bouts. She was gearing up for the Olympic Gold medal bout, but was found to be 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in on Wednesday morning.

The India Today report also stated that Phogat, her coach, and the support staff resorted to extreme measures such as cutting her hair and trying to draw out blood to reduce her weight, but in vain.

Vinesh Phogat is currently resting at the polyclinic of the Olympic Village.

While there is an uproar over Phogat's disqualification, article 11 of the United World Wrestling's rule book states that an athlete who does not make the weight cut will be eliminated from the competition. "If an athlete does not attend or fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated of the competition and ranked last, without rank."

But, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has still urged the Indian Olympic Association to explore all options to appeal against the disqualification.

According to news agency ANI, PM Modi personally spoke with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha, seeking firsthand information on the matter and potential avenues for redressal. He instructed PT Usha to exhaust all options to support Phogat's case, including filing a strong protest against the disqualification if necessary.