Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Olympic Wrestling Final
3 min read
Disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat dealt a serious blow to India’s hopes of taking home a gold medal. The 29-year-old was discovered to be 150 grams overweight during the weigh-in on the day of the final, making her unable to compete on the second day.
Regretfully, should the disqualification stand, Vinesh Phogat will not be taking home any medals from the Olympics in Paris. The wrestler failed to make the weight on Wednesday even though Vinesh Phogat’s crew gave it their all on Tuesday night.
It has come to light that Vinesh Phogat will not be returning home with a medal and that there is no way to alter the ruling. The global wrestling body states that a wrestler will finish last if they miss the weight.
On Tuesday, Vinesh Phogat weighed inside the 50 kilogram allowed limit. She upset the top-seeded wrestler in the world, Yui Susaki, in the first round and advanced to the quarter-final and semifinals to become the first Indian woman to ever make it to the Olympic final.
The disqualification was verified by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in a formal statement. Additionally, it asked all parties involved to protect Vinesh Phogat’s privacy.
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“The Indian contingent regretfully informs you that Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the 50kg women’s wrestling competition. She weighed in a few grams over 50 kg this morning, despite the team’s best efforts during the night. The contingent will not be commenting more at this time. The Indian team asks that you be considerate of Vinesh’s privacy. It would want to concentrate on the current contests,” a statement from the Indian Olympic Association stated.
WHAT ARE THE BOXING WEIGH-IN RULES?
- Timing of Weigh-In: The day before their competition, which is usually planned for the afternoon or evening, wrestlers are required to weigh in. In multi-day competitions, wrestlers are required to weigh in on each day of competition.
- Weight Categories: Wrestlers are not allowed to weigh more than the allowed amount inside their designated weight category. They have to weigh no more than the precise amounts allowed for their class.
- Attire: Wrestlers are required to weigh in solely with their competition-approved underwear, which is typically a singlet. To guarantee an exact weight measurement, no extra apparel or accessories are permitted.
- Medical Examination: To ensure that wrestlers are fit for competition, a medical examination is performed on them after the weigh-in. This checkup involves evaluations for any potential health issues or dangers that might impair their safety or performance in the competition.
IN TOKYO, WHAT WEIGHT DID VINESH COMPETE?
Notably, Vinesh was participating in the women’s 53kg division when she resumed competition in January 2024 following a 15-month hiatus. Vinesh even participated in the Tokyo Olympics in the 53kg division.
The wrestler has been fighting in the women’s 50kg division for the past three months, but it has taken an extraordinary amount of work for her to stay at competition weight.
