Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Paris Olympics: In a crushing blow to Vinesh Phogat’s fairytale story and to the hopes of the Indian Olympic contingent in Paris, the wrestler has been disqualified after being found to be overweight.
When was the weight check conducted?
The weight check was done this morning and Vinesh was apparently a few grams above the 50kg mark.
What do the rules for weight check say?
According to the very clear rules that pertain to wrestling, competitors must meet the weight on both mornings that they compete. Despite her most rigorous efforts, Vinesh couldn’t shed the last few grams.
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IOA's statement on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification
“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class,” said a statement released by the Indian contingent. “Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand.”
Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from Paris Olympics
Was Vinesh Phogat given a chance to meet the weight cut?
On Wednesday morning, Vinesh was given a 15-minute window at the weigh-in to try and squeeze in under the 50kg limit. The Indian delegation even contemplated cutting her hair in case that would make a difference.
Has this happened before for Vinesh Phogat?
Such a struggle was not new to her either. At the Olympic qualifying event in Bishkek earlier this year, she had spent hours in a sauna trying to lose weight in time. On that occasion, she just about made it.
Which weight divisions has Vinesh Phogat participated previously?
When she was stretchered off at the Rio Olympics with a knee injury, Vinesh was competing in the 48kg category. By the time she won her third Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham in 2022, she had moved up to the 53kg category. But with Antim Panghal the new sensation in that weight class, Vinesh decided to drop back down to 50kg for these Olympics.
What happens now?
The unfortunate events of these last few hours mean that Vinesh will return without a medal after qualifying for the final following a lion-hearted performance a day earlier.
USA's Sarah Hildebrandt, who was Vinesh's opponent in the final, will now meet Cuba's Lopez Yusneylis Guzman in the gold medal match. Guzman had endured a 0-5 loss against the Indian in women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling semifinal.
Whether Vinesh can appeal against this is debatable because the statement from the Indian contingent suggests that it has accepted the verdict. Usually, teams on the receiving end do appeal against such decisions. For example, the hockey team did so after Amit Rohidas was shown a red card against Great Britain in the quarter-finals. But then, weight is in black and white, with no room for interpretation.
It’s also true that such appeals are usually not entertained. Organisers have certain rules to follow and if Vinesh has indeed been found overweight, she has to pay the price, no matter how cruel it might be. It will probably end her career, considering that she may not have enough left in her tank to come back from this. For her, it’s the biggest tragedy of her life. From India’s point of view, it’s the most tragic Olympic experience ever. We are not even getting into the trauma.
Vinesh had her weight checked on the morning she won three bouts to make it to the final. And it’s clear that there was no problem with that. Whether an Olympic athlete with years of experience would do something so callous overnight to run into this kind of trouble is open to observation and common sense. It’s unlikely that she consumed food or drinks without a care in the world a night before her biggest day. But then, the Indian contingent has accepted it.
What it means for the Indian contingent?
The reality is, India’s Olympic joy has been brought down to earth after soaring in the sky just a few hours earlier. Normally, a superlative performance by an individual or a team lifts the morale of the entire contingent. How much or whether this Vinesh tragedy affects the spirits of the rest of the athletes remains to be seen.
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