Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification: UWW Rule Decoded On Paris Heartbreak

In a dramatic development at the Paris Olympics, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg gold medal match after failing her second weigh-in on Wednesday. This disqualification dashed her hopes for a gold medal and underscored the strict weight regulations enforced at the Olympics. Vinesh struggled with weight management, trying to meet the rigorous 50 kg limit but ultimately fell short by just over 100 grams, according to sources.

Sources reveal that after her bouts on Tuesday, Vinesh Phogat worked throughout the night to meet the weight requirements for Wednesday morning. She engaged in intense workouts, including skipping, cycling, stretching, and other exercises, in a bid to make weight.

Olympic weigh-ins are notably more stringent than those at other international events. Wrestlers must weigh in on the morning of the competition, and if they advance to the finals or repechage rounds, a second weigh-in is required the following day.

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The initial weigh-in allows 30 minutes for wrestlers to achieve the required weight, but the subsequent weigh-in is only 15 minutes long, leaving no room for error. Unlike other United World Wrestling (UWW) events where a 2 kg weight tolerance is permitted, the Olympics enforce a strict no-tolerance policy.

According to Article 11 of the UWW rulebook, athletes who fail to meet the weight limit are eliminated from the competition and ranked last, nullifying any prior achievements. This harsh rule meant that Vinesh’s earlier victories were rendered meaningless, ending her gold medal hopes.

Here’s what the UWW rules stipulate:

1. Any changes to final entries must be submitted to the organizer by the team leader a day before the weigh-in and competition day, except in cases of exceptional circumstances like injury, verified by a medical certificate.
2. No changes are accepted after this deadline. Weigh-ins are held each morning for the concerned weight category. On the second morning, only wrestlers in repechages and finals must weigh in, with a 15-minute window.
3. Wrestlers must undergo a medical examination the first morning and appear with their license and accreditation. The only acceptable uniform for weigh-ins is the singlet.
4. Wrestlers must be in good physical condition, with trimmed fingernails, and are allowed to weigh in as many times as they wish during the period.
5. Weigh-in referees must ensure wrestlers meet the weight requirements and adhere to all dress regulations. Athletes failing the weigh-in are eliminated and ranked last. Injured athletes from the first day are exempt from the second weigh-in and retain their results.

As a result of Vinesh’s disqualification, Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Vinesh in the semifinals, will replace her in the gold medal match.

“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 to her in the semifinal. Therefore, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez will compete in the final,” announced the organizers.

This disqualification also impacts the repechage rounds. Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki, who lost to Vinesh in the opening round, and Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, who was defeated by Vinesh in the quarterfinals, will now compete for the bronze medal.

The disqualification is a significant setback for Vinesh, who had been on an impressive run at the Paris Olympics. Her victories over top competitors had positioned her for a historic gold medal bout. Unfortunately, the strict weight regulations left no margin for error, cutting her campaign short.

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