In a disappointing turn of events, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after failing to make weight for her 50 kg gold medal bout. Phogat was approximately 100 grams over the permissible limit. According to competition regulations, this would render her ineligible for even a silver medal, leaving only gold and bronze medal winners in the 50 kg category.
Vinesh had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category on Tuesday night. Before this morning, she was assured of at least a silver medal but will now be coming back empty-handed due to the disqualification.
The shattered 29-year-old had to be taken to the polyclinic inside the Games village due to severe dehydration earlier in the day. "She was found overweight by 100gm this morning. The rules do not allow this and she has been disqualified," said an Indian coach.
The Indian Olympic Association requested privacy for the wrestler, who was competing in her third Olympics. "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," the IOA stated. "No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you to respect Vinesh's privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand," it added.
International rules stipulate that any grappler found overweight at the time of weigh-in ends up at the bottom of the final standings. She had taken down defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan en route to the finals on Tuesday in a remarkable performance and was to face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the summit bout this evening. Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Vinesh in the semifinals, replaced the disqualified Indian in the final.
"Vinesh failed the second-day weigh-in. According to article 11 of the International Wrestling Rules, Vinesh will be replaced by the wrestler who lost against her in the Semifinal. Therefore Yusneylis Guzman Lopez will compete in the Final," the Paris Games organising committee said in a statement.
"Repechage Yui Susaki vs Oksana Livach (Ukraine) will become Bronze Medal Match," it added. This means, that the 50kg category will offer only one bronze medal in the Games as against the usual four, which are decided after bouts between the losing semifinalists and the two repechage round winners.
Vinesh was not the only weight-related disqualification in the 50kg category. On Tuesday, Italy's Emanuela Liuzzi was also forced to forfeit her preliminary bout after being found overweight.
According to UWW (United World Wrestling) rules, wrestlers have the right, each in turn, to get on the scale as many times as they wish throughout the weigh-in period.
"If an athlete does not attend or fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last, without rank," the rule states.
The Indian wrestling contingent was expectedly distraught. Vinesh had stated before the Games that it would be her final outing in the quadrennial showpiece and it remains to be seen if she would change her mind after this setback.
"Everyone here is feeling as if someone in the family has died. We don't know what has struck us. Everyone is shocked," India's national women's coach Virender Dahiya said.
Cutting weight is a painful process that wrestlers have to endure if their natural body weight is higher than the division in which they compete.
Vinesh's natural body weight is about 56-57kg and it takes massive effort for her to get down to 50kg. While in invitational tournaments, UWW allows for a grace of up to 2kg, no such relaxation exists for showpieces like the Olympics, the World Championships and the Asian Championships.
Athletes competing in contact sports go without food and even water two days before the weigh-in.
Boxer Nikhat Zareen had said after her defeat in Paris that she did not take either food or water for two days to stay within the weight limit and lost strength as a result.
PM offers support
In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered words of support to Vinesh, who was at the forefront of a lengthy protest alleging government inaction against former Wrestling Federation of India head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers.
"Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing," he posted on X.
"At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you," he added.
It is learnt that the PM spoke to IOA President P T Usha and asked her to explore every available avenue that might help Vinesh's case.
"PM spoke to IOA President PT Usha and sought first hand information from PT Usha on the issue and the options India has in the wake of Vinesh's setback," a source said.
"He asked her to explore the full range of options to help Vinesh's case. He also urged PT Usha to file a strong protest regarding her disqualification if that helps Vinesh," he added.
(With PTI inputs)