Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling competition on Wednesday after failing to meet the weight requirements ahead of the gold-medal match. This disqualification not only prevents her from competing for the gold but also eliminates her from silver medal contention.
Indian Olympic Association Confirms Disqualification
In an official statement, the Indian Olympic Association conveyed the unfortunate news: “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 to respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions at hand.”
Struggle with Weight Requirements
Vinesh Phogat, who was set to face USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the final, was disqualified for being 150 grams overweight on the morning of the competition. According to the weigh-in rules by United World Wrestling, “If an athlete does not attend or fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated of the competition and ranked last, without rank.”
This setback is particularly painful given Phogat’s historic performance. The 29-year-old had become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Her achievement came after defeating formidable opponents, including Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman.
A Historic Achievement Marred by Weight Issues
Vinesh Phogat’s journey to the final was a significant milestone for Indian wrestling. She had already made history by being the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. This was a moment of immense pride and hope for Indian sports, especially considering that Sakshi Malik is the only other Indian woman wrestler to have won an Olympic medal, having secured a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The Impact and Future Implications
The disqualification of Vinesh Phogat highlights the stringent regulations and challenges faced by athletes at the highest level of competition. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of meeting all the requirements, including weight categories, to compete and succeed in the Olympics.
