Just as India was rejoicing after confirming its fourth medal at the Paris Games, there was a rude awakening early morning on August 7. News came in that Vinesh Phogat, who had made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, will not be able to contest for gold after failing to meet the weight criterion for the match scheduled later in the day. Phogat was to face off against Sarah Ann Hildrebrandt of the USA in the women’s freestyle 50kg class final.
As per Article 11 of the United World Wrestling, the sport’s international governing body, wrestlers are weighed in each morning of the concerned weight category. It’s to be noted that 29-year-old Phogat had met the weight criterion on August 6 when she began her campaign with a win over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan and then went on to outclass Cuban Yusneylis Guzman in the semis.
“The second morning of the concerned weight category, only the wrestlers who participate in the repechage and finals have to come for the weigh-in. If the athlete does not attend or fails the weigh-in (the first or second weigh-in), he will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last, without rank,” state the rules.
It’s this 15-minute session that’s said to have dashed India’s hopes. It essentially means that all of Phogat’s wins on August 6 are nullified and she loses out on the silver medal too. Phogat is the first athlete to be disqualified from an Olympic final for not meeting the weight norms.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) further communicated that Guzman will be contesting in the 50kg gold medal bout against Hildebrandt, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, thereby dashing any hopes that the appeals of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) could work.
Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, chief medical officer of the Indian contingent, issued a detailed statement about the tragic course of events. “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 weight gain in the morning involves a calculated restriction of food and water, and besides this the athlete needs to sweat; that sweating is done with sauna and exercise. This weight cut has the benefit of putting you into a lighter weight category, but it does cause weakness and energy depletion and this is counterproductive to participation. So, most wrestlers will thereafter go in for some amount of energy restoration with some amount of water and high-energy foods; these are given after weight gain,” the statement said.
In Phogat’s case, during her three bouts some amount of water was given to ensure she wasn’t dehydrated. But the rebound weight gain following competition was more than her support staff had anticipated.
A detailed report in Sportstar recounts the drastic measures taken to ensure Phogat makes the 50kg cut for next day. Phogat is said to have skipped her meal, not had water, worked out—skipping, cycling and jogging—and been in the sauna to cut down her weight. Her hair was chopped off—a photo circulating shows she has a boyish hairdo now—and even her clothes shortened. All the efforts fell marginally short. On August 7, in the weigh-in session held at 7.15 am, she is said to have been 100 grams overweight.
“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 at hand,” the IOA said in a statement.
One of India’s most decorated wrestlers, Phogat had to take the long road to make it to Paris, after spearheading a protest against erstwhile WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh that saw her take to the streets in the national capital and even sleep on it for nearly a month. Phogat returned to wrestling only after the Delhi police registered a case and a legal battle ensured. That wasn’t the end of her woes. Phogat was recovering from a knee injury when junior world champion Antim Panghal won a quota in the 53kg category—Phogat’s first choice.
To compete in Paris, Phogat had little choice but to change her weight category and opted for 50kg. Maintaining the weight was also an issue early this year at the Asian Olympics qualifier. In what’s a cruel twist of fate, the disqualification means Phogat returns empty-handed for three straight Games. It remains to be seen if Phogat will have it within her to get another shot at the only medal that has eluded her so far. She will be 34 by the time of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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