New Delhi: The doctors, coaches and support staff associated with the Indian Olympic contingent left no stones unturned to help 50 kg women’s freestyle wrestler Vinesh Phogat get into shape for Wednesday’s gold-medal bout with American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.
But all their efforts, including cutting off some of her hair, didn’t work as India’s first female wrestler to qualify for an Olympic final was found to be 100 grams above prescribed weight during Wednesday’s weigh-in.
She was fine ahead of her bouts on Tuesday – when she beat three opponents including Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist Yui Susaki of Japan – but gained 2 kilograms after her semifinal win last night.
“We tried all possible drastic measures, including cutting off hair, shortening her clothes. But despite all this, we were not able to meet the 50 kg weight,” Indian contingent’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala said.
Pictures taken after Vinesh Phogat semifinal yesterday. May be she was skipping right after the bout in a desperate attempt to lose a few grams. Heartbreakingly, it was not to be. A champion athelete nonetheless pic.twitter.com/ZXB8pyf3HP
— Bharat Sharma (@sharmabharat45) August 7, 2024
Conceding that Vinesh was not able to shed those extra 100 grams at Wednesday’s weigh-in, Dr Dinshaw explained the process.
“Wrestlers usually participate in a weight category less than their natural weight. It gives them an advantage since they are fighting with less stronger opponents. The process of weight cut prior to the weigh-in in the morning involves a calculated restriction of food and water. Besides this, the athlete needs to sweat, and that sweating is done by sauna and exercises. Now this weight cut has the benefit of putting you in a lighter weight category,” said Dr Dinshaw.
He went on to say that weight cuts cause weakness and energy depletion.
“This is counterproductive to participation. So most wrestlers thereafter go in for some amount of energy restoration with limited water and high-energy foods. These are usually given after the weigh-in. The calculation from the nutritionist that is done is athlete-specific. Vinesh’s nutritionist felt that the usual amount that she takes — which is about 1.5 kg of nutrition over the day which gives enough to give her energy for the bouts,” Dr Dinshaw revealed.
He added that Vinesh’s nutritionist was optimistic of reducing her extra weight through normal procedure but it did not work on Tuesday after three rigorous bouts.
“Sometimes, there’s also a factor of rebound weight gain following competition. Vinesh had three bouts. Hence to prevent any dehydration, some amount of water had to be given. We found that her post-participation weight had increased more than normal.
“The coach initiated the normal process of weight cut that he always followed with Vinesh. During night, the weight cut procedure was followed. In the morning, despite all efforts, her weight was found to be 100 gm more than the limit. Hence she was disqualified,” said Dr Dinshaw.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief PT Usha said that a protest had been lodged over Vinesh’s disqualification with the United World Wrestling (UWW).
However, UWW president Nenad Lalovic told India Today that rules had to be followed, and there was no way the medal could be given to Vinesh.
So Vinesh will return empty-handed from her third Olympics as well, while Cuba’s Lopez Yusneylis — who lost to the Indian in the semifinal – will battle for the gold medal.
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