'This is wrong': Vinesh Phogat suggests major change in Wrestling Rules, explains 'women can’t lose more than 3 kg in a day'

Vinesh Phogat suggests major change in Wrestling Rules

Vinesh Phogat, who missed out on an assured Olympic medal due to disqualification, has a suggestion for United World Wrestling (UWW), the world wrestling body. The Indian grappler feels women should have an allowance of 1kg extra weight for the second day of the competition. She even feels that there's "no need" to check weight on the following day if the wrestler has reached the final of the competition.

Vinesh, competing in the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling, was assured of a silver medal after reaching the finals at the recently-concluded Paris Olympics. She, however, failed to meet the weight on the morning of her final bout, measuring 100 grams over the eligibility criteria, which led to her disqualification.

In a recent interaction with the Indian Express, Vinesh was asked to share her thoughts on the existing rules, to which she replied: “I think there is no need to even check the weight again of those who have reached the final. Or they should delay the weigh-in a bit on the second day so it gives more time. There needs to be an allowance, especially for women since their body structure is different from men.”

As per the UWW Olympics weigh-in rules, wrestlers have to measure their weight on the morning of their competition. And before that they need to appear at medical examination with their licence and accreditation, during which the wrestler is supposed wear their singlet. The weigh-in duration for Day 1 is half hour, during which a wrestler can measure multiple times. However, if they progress to the final, the weigh-in duration reduces to 15 minutes and is conducted on the morning of the bout.

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“Women can’t lose more than 3 kg in a day when you are at peak fitness because your fat percent is already very low. Men wrestlers can but we cannot because our body retains water. All women athletes are concerned about the weight cut on the second day. At the Games Village, there were at least 50 athletes, from different sports, who hugged me and said that this is wrong,” Vinesh added.

Meanwhile, UWW chief Nenad Lalovic had earlier stated that the body won't be revising any rules based on this one incident. He had mentioned that the strict regulations are to ensure wrestlers "compete in their natural weight category" and not drastically reduce weight, which may have an "impact on their health".