Team India's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, revealed that drastic measures were taken to reduce Vinesh Phogat's weight before her weigh-in on Wednesday morning at the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh was found to be 100 grams overweight, leading to her disqualification from the gold medal bout.
Vinesh Phogat's disqualification has been a significant setback for Team India, particularly given her status as one of the country's top wrestlers. Dr. Pardiwala disclosed that efforts included cutting Vinesh's hair and making various other attempts to shed the extra weight, but these measures proved insufficient.
In the days leading up to the weigh-in, Vinesh had gained 2 kilograms. Wrestlers typically aim to compete in weight categories below their natural weight to gain a competitive edge. This involves strict dietary restrictions and rigorous physical activities to induce sweating and weight loss. Despite these preparations, Vinesh's nutritionist calculated that she would need approximately 1.5 kg of nutrition over the day to maintain her energy levels for her bouts. However, after her semi-final bout, Vinesh's weight was 2.7 kg above the limit, necessitating urgent measures to reduce it.
The team employed standard weight-cutting procedures overnight, but the 12-hour timeframe before the weigh-in proved too short. Despite efforts that included dehydration and the drastic step of cutting her hair, Vinesh was still 100 grams over the required weight limit at the final weigh-in.
Dr. Pardiwala explained the physiological challenges involved, noting that weight loss for wrestlers often involves dehydration, which can be countered by the necessary rehydration and nutrition intake between bouts. This process led to a rebound increase in Vinesh's weight, complicating the weight-cutting efforts.
"Her post-participation weight after the semi-final was found to be 2.7 kg above the limit, and the team and the coach started the usual process of sweating it out. Typically, you require some amount of time for that, but unfortunately, we did not have that much time—only 12 hours," Dr. Pardiwala said. "The entire team went with the whole process of reducing her weight, however possible. We tried our best to get her weight down. When she could not sweat anymore, we tried drastic measures like cutting her hair and shortening her vest."
Dr. Pardiwala emphasized that with a few additional hours, Vinesh would likely have made the weight cut, but the constraints led to her disqualification. "7:15-7:30 is the weigh-in. We got that done at the last possible minute at 7:29, and she was 100 grams more than the required limit. Maybe if we would have had a few hours more, we might have been able to shed that 100 grams, but we just did not have enough time," he explained.
Following the disqualification, Vinesh was rehydrated and provided with intravenous fluids, ensuring she returned to a healthy state. Despite the setback, she remains physically and medically normal, though understandably disappointed.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Chief PT Usha confirmed that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had filed an appeal with United World Wrestling (UWW). "Vinesh's disqualification is very shocking. I met Vinesh at the Olympic Village a short while ago. I ensured the complete support of the Olympic Association of India. We are providing Vinesh with all the support possible. The Wrestling Federation of India has filed an appeal at UWW, and the IOA is following it up," she stated.
However, UWW Chief Nenad Lalovic confirmed to India Today that the appeal would not be entertained, and Vinesh's disqualification would stand. "We have to respect the rules. I'm so sad about what happened to her. She was overweight by a very small margin. But the rules are rules, and everything is public. All the athletes are there, and it's impossible to let someone compete who does not make the weight," Lalovic said.
This incident underscores the critical importance of precise weight management in wrestling and the stringent adherence to regulations that govern international competitions. For Vinesh Phogat and her team, it represents a heart-wrenching culmination of hard work and aspirations, dashed by the narrowest of margins.
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