India’s Olympic team is devastated after one of its star athletes, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, was disqualified just hours before her gold medal match for exceeding the 50 kilogram weight limit by the weight of a medium-sized banana, despite even cutting her hair in an attempt to compete for gold.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “despair” on social media over the highly unusual situation surrounding the athlete nicknamed “Lioness of India”.
Phogat was due to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA in the final on Thursday evening. The Indian had reached the required weight three fights ago on Wednesday, but had to undergo a re-test on Thursday morning in accordance with competition rules. Phogat had been jogging and jumping all night to reduce her weight, but failed by just 100 grams.
Modi, in a social media message to the wrestler, called Phogat a “champion among champions” and “India’s pride.” He added, “Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the feeling of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you embody resilience. It has always been your nature to tackle challenges head-on. Come back stronger! We all keep our fingers crossed for you.”
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual gold at the Olympics in 2008, said he was “completely devastated”. “Sometimes people think you don’t need a gold medal to be a true champion,” he added.
India’s chief health official, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, explained: “Wrestlers usually compete in a weight class below their natural weight. This gives them an advantage as they are fighting against (not so strong) opponents. The process of weight loss involves deliberate restriction of food and water and sweating through exercises and sauna until the morning weigh-in.
“Vinesh’s nutritionist had calculated it to be 1.5 kg. Sometimes weight gain occurs again after competitions.
“Vinesh had three fights and had to drink small amounts of water to avoid dehydration. Her weight after the fight was higher. The coach started the normal weight cutting process that he had always used with Vinesh and was confident that he would be successful.
“However, it turned out that Vinesh was 100 grams over her 50 kg weight category and hence she was disqualified. All kinds of drastic measures were taken including cutting off her hair. However, she was not under her permissible weight of 50 kg.
“As a precautionary measure, Vinesh was given intravenous fluids after the disqualification to prevent dehydration. We are also getting blood tests done at the local hospital to make sure everything is fine. All of Vinesh’s parameters have been normal throughout the process and she is feeling perfectly fine.”
Phogat had brought Japanese journalists to tears when she beat number one seed Yui Susaki in the opening round of the competition on Wednesday. Already a big name in her own country, Phogat slept on the streets of New Delhi to protest against sexual allegations in her sport.
PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, said: “I am shocked and disappointed by Vinesh’s disqualification.
“I met Vinesh at the Olympic Village and assured her of the full support of the Indian Olympic Association, the Government of India and the entire country. We are providing all medical and emotional support to Vinesh. The Indian Wrestling Federation has filed an appeal to reconsider the decision to disqualify Vinesh and the IOA is pursuing it vigorously. We are sure that all Indians will stand behind Vinesh and the entire Indian contingent.”
