Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic Disqualification: WFI President Demands Action Against Coaches and Support Staff
India’s wrestling contingent in Paris has come under fire after Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Olympics due to weight gain. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has urged the central government to take strict action against those responsible for the incident.
Phogat was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States after she was found overweight from the permissible limit of 50kg. Singh believes it was the responsibility of Phogat’s coaches and support staff to ensure she was within the weight limit.
“I don’t think Vinesh is at fault here. She was performing wonderfully, and the entire responsibility here is of her coach and the supporting staff. A probe should be done to see how her weight increased. I urge the central government to take strict action against them,” Singh told PTI.
Singh revealed that he had requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and United World Wrestling (UWW) to allow Phogat some relaxation, but his request was denied. “The entire country was expecting a gold medal but she was disqualified due to her weight. I hope God will give her strength, and the entire nation is with her,” he added.
According to reports, Phogat gained a couple of kilos by Tuesday night. Her coaches and support staff took desperate measures to reduce her weight, including skipping, jogging, cycling, and even cutting her hair. However, nothing worked, and she was still found 100gm overweight.
In international wrestling competitions, wrestlers must pass a weigh-in process at the start of the day. In non-medal matches, athletes are given 30 minutes to weigh in multiple times. However, if they are found to be even 1gm overweight, they are disqualified.
Phogat had passed the weigh-in process on Tuesday and was allowed to participate in her bouts. She registered historic wins against Yui Susaki of Japan and Oksana Livach of Ukraine. However, she failed the weigh-in on Wednesday and was disqualified, nullifying all her previous results.
The WFI president’s demand for action against Phogat’s coaches and support staff highlights the importance of proper weight management in wrestling. The incident serves as a reminder that athletes and their teams must adhere to the strict weight regulations to avoid disqualification and disappointment.
