 "Vinesh Phogat’s struggle to lose 2kg overnight: Skipping, jogging and attempting to draw out blood")
Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics ahead of her gold medal match in the women’s 50kg freestyle event on Wednesday. The Indian wrestler failed the weigh-in for the final against USA’s Sarah Hilderbrandt after being 100 grams above the permissible weight.
As per the international rules, wrestlers have to weigh in on each day of the competition, and with the 50kg matches spread over two days, Vinesh had to weigh in on both days. She was within the 50kg limit on Tuesday when she stunned reigning Olympic champions Yui Susaki on her way to reach the final. However, Vinesh replenished herself after her three bouts on Tuesday and was 2kg overnight on Tuesday night, as per reports in ESPN and the Indian Express.
Explained: How are athletes weighted at the Olympics?
To lose the 2kgs Vinesh was seen skipping immediately after winning her semi-final match. The pictures of her ski[ing on Tuesday night had gone viral on X (formerly Twitter).
Vinesh Phogat back at work for the big final tomorrow #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/XuBWiPiIPC
— Bharat Sharma (@sharmabharat45) August 6, 2024
Vinesh tried various things including jogging, skipping, cycling, and taking sauna baths to lose the 2kgs. She did not sleep on Tuesday night and also did not consume food or water in the hope of getting under 50kg weight.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt has been reported by Sportstar that Vinesh took measures like cutting her hair and trying to draw out blood, but failed in her efforts to lose the final 100 grams.
**Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more**The Indian Olympic Association in its statement said that Vinesh made her “best efforts through the night” but weighed in a few grams over 50kg on Wednesday morning.
“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 on hand.”
Vinesh is the first athlete to be disqualified from a final after failing to make weight.
Why was it so tough for Vinesh to lose weight?
Losing 2kgs overnight is next to an impossible job but it became even more difficult for Vinesh because her natural body weight is around 56-57kg. She prefers to fight in the 53kg category but because Antim Panghal has already qualified for that weight class, Vinesh was forced to compete in the 50kg event.
What is the rule over weigh-in?
As per the United World Wrestling (UWW), the global body in the sport, “If an athlete does not attend or fails the weigh-in, he or she will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last without a ranking.”
This means Vinesh will return empty hands despite winning the semi-finals and being assured of at least a silver.
As per the latest reports, Vinesh is currently in a polyclinic inside the Athlete Village in Paris due to severe dehydration.
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