SPORTS DESK
In an unfortunate event for India at Paris Olympics, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle wrestling for being overweight by a few grams, after she stormed into final bout. The Indian Olympics Association in a statement said, despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning.
Earlier, Vinesh Phogat had beat World No.1 and Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan to qualify for the quarterfinals. Later in the quarter-finals, Vinesh defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, 7-5 to secure a semi-final berth. In the penultimate bout, she went on to beat Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to secure a medal and become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post consoled the wrestler saying that she is a champion among champions and India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian.
“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.” the world wrestling rules say.
Vinesh Phogat was in the 50kg permissible limit on Tuesday. She stunned World No. 1 Yui Susaki in the opening round before working her way through in the quarter-final and the semi-final to become the first-ever Indian woman to reach the Olympic wrestling final.
INDIAN OLYMPIC BODY REACTS
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), in an official statement, confirmed the disqualification. It also requested all stakeholders to ensure Vinesh Phogat’s privacy.
“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. 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 respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand,” the Indian Olympic Association said in a statement.
WHAT ARE THE RULES OF WEIGH-IN IN BOXING?
Weigh-In Timing: Wrestlers must weigh in the day before their competition, typically scheduled for the afternoon or evening. For events spanning multiple days, wrestlers must weigh in each day they compete.
Weight Categories: Wrestlers must weigh in within their specific weight category without any allowance. They must meet the exact weight limits designated for their class.
Attire: Wrestlers must weigh in wearing only their competition-approved undergarments (often a singlet). No additional clothing or accessories are allowed to ensure an accurate weight measurement.
Medical Examination: Following the weigh-in, wrestlers undergo a medical check to confirm their fitness for competition. This examination includes assessments for any potential health risks or conditions that could affect their performance or safety in the competition.