Dream of wrestling Gold shattered: Why Vinesh Phogat was disqualified

In a major development at the Paris Olympics 2024, India's Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified after failing to meet the required weight for her 50 kg gold medal bout. Although she successfully made the weight for Tuesday’s matches, the rules mandate that wrestlers must remain within their weight category on both days of the competition.

"She was found overweight by 100gm this morning. The rules do not allow this and she has been disqualified," said an Indian coach.

Check Paris Olympics 2024 Day 12 (August 7) LIVE SCORE, MEDAL AND MATCH UPDATES HERE

Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal watch.

A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.

"It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women's Wrestling 50 kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50 kg 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," the statement read.

Vinesh had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.

Vinesh had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in the event on Tuesday night.

Will Vinesh Phogat get a medal despite being disqualified?

The disqualification means that Vinesh will end medal-less in the Games as 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 the finals on Tuesday and was to face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the summit bout this evening.

Does Vinesh first grappler to get disqualified at Paris Olympics 2024?

Hers 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.

Stevan Micic (Serbia) - Men's Freestyle 57kg

Batyrbek Tsakulov (Slovakia) - Men's Freestyle 65kg

Danila Semenov (Russia) - Men's Light Heavyweight (80-92kg)

 

EXPLAINED: Olympics Weigh-In Rule in Wrestling

In Olympic wrestling, the weigh-in process is strictly regulated to ensure fair competition and compliance with the rules. Below is an outline of the key aspects of the weigh-in procedure:

1. Final Entries and Adjustments:

   • Any changes to the final list of entries must be submitted to the organisers by the team leader at least 12 hours prior to the weigh-in and competition day. Adjustments are only allowed in extreme cases, such as an injury confirmed by a medical certificate.
   • No changes to the entry list are permitted after this deadline.

2. Weigh-In Schedule:

   • The weigh-in for each weight category is scheduled every morning before the start of the competition.
   • Thirty minutes are allocated for both medical control and weigh-in procedures.

3. Participants Required for Weigh-In:

   • Only wrestlers competing in the repechages (a second chance bracket) and finals on the second morning in their respective weight groups are required to attend the weigh-in.
   • The weigh-in process lasts for 15 minutes.

4. Medical Examination:

   • Wrestlers must undergo a medical examination on the first morning before they are permitted to participate in the weigh-in. Failure to do so disqualifies them from the weigh-in.
   • Medical professionals are responsible for screening wrestlers to ensure they are free from any infectious diseases.

5. Weigh-In Procedure:

   • Wrestlers must present their license and accreditation at the time of weigh-in and medical examination.
   • Wrestlers must wear a singlet, which is the only acceptable uniform for the weigh-in. There is no weight tolerance allowed for the singlet.
   • Wrestlers can step on the scale as many times as they wish during the weigh-in period.
   • Referees in charge of the weigh-in must verify that each wrestler meets the weight requirements for their division and complies with all relevant rules.

6. Dress Code and Physical Condition:

   • Wrestlers must be in optimal physical condition and have very short fingernails.
   • If a wrestler is not dressed appropriately, the referees will not allow them to weigh in.

7. Consequences of Failing Weigh-In:

   • If a wrestler fails the first or second weigh-in or does not show up, they will be dismissed from the tournament and placed last without a ranking.
   • If a wrestler sustains an injury on the first day, they are exempt from attending the second weigh-in but will retain their results from the first day.

These rules ensure that all competitors are fairly assessed and maintain the integrity of the competition.

Vinesh Phogat reached the final of the 50 kg women's freestyle wrestling event, defying all odds. However, she was approximately 2 kilos overweight on Tuesday night, the day she secured her place in the final.

According to media reports, the 29-year-old Phogat stayed up all night, engaging in rigorous activities such as jogging, skipping, and cycling in a desperate bid to meet the weight criteria.

Despite her relentless efforts, she fell short by 100 grams on the morning of August 7, the day of her gold medal bout. Phogat has faced similar challenges in the past when competing in the 50 kg division, a category lower than her usual 53 kg class. Even during the Olympic qualifiers, she endured a similar ordeal, narrowly making the weight.