The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President, Sanjay Singh, has called for strict action against Vinesh Phogat’s coaches and support staff following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics. Phogat was disqualified just hours before her historic gold medal bout due to being 100 grams over the permissible weight limit for the 50kg category.
Singh emphasized that the responsibility for managing Phogat’s weight lay with her coaches and support team. “I don’t think Vinesh is at fault here. She was performing wonderfully, and the entire responsibility lies with her coach and support staff. A probe should be conducted to determine how her weight increased. I urge the central government to take strict action against them,” Singh told PTI.
In a bid to get some leniency, Singh spoke with officials from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and United World Wrestling (UWW), but his request was denied. “I asked for some relaxation for Vinesh when I learned she was 100 grams overweight. Unfortunately, this request was not granted. The entire country was hoping for a gold medal, but she was disqualified due to her weight. I hope God gives her strength, and the entire nation stands with her,” he added.
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Phogat’s coaches and support staff took extreme measures to help her make weight, including keeping her up all night with minimal water intake, extensive exercise, and even cutting her hair. Despite these efforts, she was still 100 grams over the limit.
In international wrestling competitions, athletes must pass a weigh-in process at the start of the day. They are allowed multiple attempts within a 30-minute window, but even being 1 gram overweight leads to disqualification. Phogat successfully weighed in on Tuesday and was permitted to compete, securing victories over four-time world champion and Tokyo gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan, Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, and Yusneilis Guzman Lopez of Cuba to reach the final.
Despite her incredible performance, Phogat will return home without a medal. According to UWW rules, failing the weigh-in process at any stage nullifies all previous results.
The support from officials like Sanjay Singh highlights the complexity and pressures of weight management in wrestling, emphasizing the critical role of coaches and support staff in ensuring athletes meet the strict requirements of international competition.
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