100g of Tears... Indian Wrestling Athlete Disqualified Before Finals Due to Weight Overlimit

Weight Gain the Night Before Finals... Disqualified
Did Exercise and Haircut but Could Not Lose Weight
Fainted Due to Dehydration... Hospitalized

On the 6th (local time), Indian athlete Vinesh Phogat, who won the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling semifinal at the Paris Olympics, is offering a prayer of thanks.
[Image source=AFP·Yonhap News]

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had advanced to the women's freestyle 50kg final, missed out on a medal after being disqualified due to weight gain the night before the final. Phogat, who had been exercising throughout the night to reduce the sudden weight increase, was eventually hospitalized due to dehydration.

According to the Indian local media outlet Times of India, on the 7th (local time), Phogat was found to be 100g over the 50kg weight limit the day before the final. According to Olympic competition rules, exceeding the weight limit for each category results in disqualification and being recorded as last place, causing Phogat to lose all medal opportunities. The dream of becoming India's first female wrestling gold medalist was also shattered.

Phogat made desperate efforts to lose weight overnight through running, cycling, and other exercises but ultimately failed. She is currently reported to be hospitalized in the Olympic Village hospital after fainting due to severe dehydration.

Following Phogat's hospitalization, the Indian Olympic Association held a press conference that day to announce her disqualification. Dr. Deenshaw Pardiwala, the Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic Association, stated at the press conference, "Phogat gained about 100g after competing in three matches the previous day. She was at normal weight before the matches and only drank a small amount of water afterward. We used every possible method to reduce her weight until the day before the competition. Phogat exercised throughout the night and even cut her hair short, but ultimately failed to lose weight."

PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, said, "We are currently providing all medical and emotional support to Phogat. We have also filed an appeal through the Wrestling Federation of India to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the disqualification." She added, "We will refrain from making further specific comments and request respect for Phogat's privacy."

The entire nation of India is in shock over Phogat's elimination, as many had firmly believed in her gold medal victory. She had drawn attention by causing an upset in the round of 16 the previous day, defeating Japan's Susaki Yui, the world number one in the category, 3-2. Susaki, known as the "defending champion," had never lost in senior-level international competitions before and her 94-match winning streak was halted by this defeat.

Concerns about Phogat's weight had actually been raised even before the Paris Olympics. Phogat competed in the women's freestyle 53kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Championships, but with her move down to the 50kg category for the Paris Olympics, weight management became a critical challenge.

In an interview with Indian media last April, Phogat mentioned, "I have to manage my weight much better than before. Because my muscle mass is very high, it is not easy to prevent weight gain."

Meanwhile, in the women's freestyle 50kg final, where Phogat was originally scheduled to compete, Cuba's Yusneily Guzman, who lost in the semifinals, will take her place.