Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat faced disqualification from the Paris Olympics today, mere hours before her scheduled 50kg freestyle wrestling final. The disqualification came after Phogat, who had moved down from her usual 53kg class, failed to meet the strict weight requirements during the weigh-in.
Shocking disqualification
At the second day’s weigh-in, Phogat exceeded the 50kg limit by a marginal 100 grams, despite rigorous preparations to reduce her weight.
Sources report that the experienced athlete had taken extreme measures, including fasting and all-night running, in a last-ditch effort to qualify. Despite appeals from Indian officials for extra time, the Olympic committee stood firm on their decision.
The Indian Olympic Association released a statement expressing their disappointment and requesting privacy for Phogat as the team focuses on ongoing competitions.
How weigh-in work
Olympic wrestling weigh-ins are known for their stringent rules to ensure fair competition. Athletes must weigh in on their competition day, with the event lasting two days. They have a 30-minute window to meet weight requirements during the initial weigh-in, with multiple attempts allowed.
Wrestlers must weigh in on the morning of their competition day. Each weight class competition spans two days, requiring finalists and repechage participants to meet weight requirements on both days. At the initial weigh-in, athletes have a 30-minute window to achieve the correct weight, with unlimited attempts allowed within this period. Competitors are weighed wearing only their singlets.
In addition to the weigh-in, athletes undergo a health check to rule out any contagious diseases and ensure their fingernails are trimmed extremely short. For those competing on the second day, the weigh-in duration is reduced to 15 minutes.
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified as she was 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in on the second day of the competition. This unexpected outcome is a significant setback for Indian wrestling and has dashed Phogat’s Olympic aspirations, as she was considered a strong medal prospect.
Similar situation in 2016
Phogat faced a similar situation in 2016 when she was disqualified from the 1st World Olympic qualifying event for being 400 grams over the 48kg category limit. This occurred on a day when other female wrestlers also struggled to secure their spots for the Rio Games.
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