Vinesh Phogat’s Paris Olympics heartbreak, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was found to be marginally above the necessary weight on the second day of competition in the 50 kg category, and will not make the podium on Wednesday evening.
The Indian contingent was in for a shock as wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was on her way to become the country’s first woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final by defeating World and Olympic 50kg champion Yui Susaki on Tuesday night, was eliminated for being overweight ahead of her final bout against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt on Wednesday.
The statement by the Indian Olympic Association says: “It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. 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”
Earlier, sources said the wrestler was roughly 100 grams over the permissible limits, which could lead to her disqualification. According to competition rules, Phogat will not be eligible even for a silver medal. In the gold-medal bout, the IOC later confirmed that Phogat would be replaced by Yusneylis Guzman, the Cuban wrestler she defeated in the semi-final.
Vinesh hospitalized:
The intense overnight workout and drastic measures to reduce her weight led to Vinesh getting dehydrated, according to reports, and is receiving medical care in Paris.
What does United World Wrestling say?
According to UWW’s Article-11 on weigh-in, “For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning of the concerned weight category. The weigh-in and the medical control last 30 minutes.
“The second morning of the concerned weight category only the wrestlers who participate in the repechages and finals have to come for the weigh-in. This weigh-in will last 15 minutes.
According to UWW’s Article-11 on weigh-in, “For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning of the concerned weight category. The weigh-in and the medical control last 30 minutes.
“The second morning of the concerned weight category only the wrestlers who participate in the repechages and finals have to come for the weigh-in. This weigh-in will last 15 minutes.
[…] event that will shake the Indian sporting culture for quite some time, Vinesh Phogat’s incredible journey to the women’s 57kg freestyle wrestling final was halted as she was […]