The Paris 2024 Olympics has been an amazing sports competition thus far, filled with many moments of joyous triumphs, gutwrenching heartbreaks and contentious controversies.
However, the latest controversy the Olympics has found itself in has got to be the most devastating so far, affecting Indian athlete, 29-year-old Vinesh Phogat, just hours before her gold medal match in the women’s 50kg wrestling category.
Why Vinesh was disqualified despite only being 100 grams over the weight limit
Get this, Vinesh was disqualified from what would’ve been a historic match for her and her country for being a mere 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in that took place in the morning before the match today. That’s 0.1 kg!
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 explained the decision in an official statement, asserting that in wrestling, bouts in each weight category are held over 2 days and that the weigh-in process is to ensure wrestlers are not overweight in their category.
Furthermore, any wrestler who fails in the weigh-in is disqualified.
The statement quoted Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, the Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) saying that wrestlers usually participate in a weight category less than their natural weight.
This gives them an advantage since they are fighting with less strong opponents and the process of weight cutting involves a calculated restriction of food and water along with sweating from exercises and sauna till the morning weigh-in.
He added that this weight cut causes weakness and energy depletion, which is counter-productive and hence, for energy restoration, limited water and high-energy foods are given after weigh-in.
Vinesh’s nutritionist had calculated this to be 1.5kg. There sometimes is also a rebound in weight gain following a competition. Moreover, she had 3 bouts, and hence, small amounts of water had to be given to prevent dehydration.
However, her post-participation weight was found to be increased. The coach initiated the normal process of weight cutting that he has always employed with Vinesh and felt confident that it would be achieved.
Dr Dinshaw asserted,
“However, Vinesh was found to be 100 grams over her 50kg weight category, and hence, she was disqualified.”
“All possible drastic measures, including cutting off her hair, were used. However, she was not below her allowed weight of 50kg.”
A devastated Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport earlier today
Vinesh made a historic run in the 2024 Olympics en route to the final, defeating world champion Yui Susaki.
She was devastated by the disqualification and earlier today took to her X (formerly Twitter) account to heartbreakingly announce her retirement from the sport after the controversy.
She asserted,
“Mother, wrestling won against me. I lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered. I don’t have any more strength now.
“Goodbye wrestling 2001 – 2024. I will forever be indebted to all of you. Please forgive me.”
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 🙏
आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी 🙏🙏
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024
She has since filed an appeal
As reported by Hindustan Times, Vinesh has since appealed against her disqualification to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
However, the sport’s international governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW) has made it known that the current weigh-in rule that led to the disqualification of Vinesh can’t be changed as of now.
Hence, it’s essentially impossible for her to get a rematch for the Gold medal, with her only possible remedy being to be awarded a joint silver medal.
So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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