Vinesh Phogat was dealt a cruel blow ahead of her gold medal wrestling match in Paris, after weighing in just 150g above her weight limit.
The Indian wrestler was competing in the women’s 50kg freestyle event, and had made history already as the first woman from her nation to reach the gold medal bout at the Olympics.
Phogat was due to square off against Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States, but was denied the opportunity by the barest of margins, and as a result of her disqualification she will not pick up any medal at all.
‘It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the women’s wrestling 50kg class,’ the Indian Olympic Association said in a statement following the announcement on Wednesday morning.
‘Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning.’
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Vinesh Phogat’s bid for an Olympic gold has been ended after she failed to make weight
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The Indian wrestler was pictured recovering well in hospital on Wednesday
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She had already dropped close to 3kg just to compete at the wait, having previously fought at 53kg
Phogat had already dropped almost 3kg to compete at the weight, usually operating in the 53kg division, and had gone to some lengths to do so.
According to a report from NDTV, the wrestler admitted to undertaking rigorous methods to shed the weight, including intense sauna sessions, and her coach even suggested cutting her hair to lose another 50g.
Once at the games, her heats, quarter-finals and semi-finals began all on Tuesday, and after falling into the necessary category she was able to fight her way through the field and reach the showpiece spectacle against the odds.
But despite going straight into training sessions after her bouts and not having a meal, her weight still went up by 1kg meaning she had to take further action if she still wanted to face the American Hildebrandt.
The report adds that her dramatic shedding took a more gruesome tone. After cutting her hair to try and make weight, she allegedly resorted to drawing blood in an attempt to meet the criteria – attempts which ultimately failed.
Indian women’s chief coach Virender Dahiya said: ‘The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Sanjay Singh and the IOA officials are in touch with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United World Wrestling (UWW) over the issue.
‘Last night her weight was up by 1kg. We and her personal support staff worked to cut it down. Unfortunately, it was slightly above the limit.’
WFI president Sanjay Singh reportedly claimed that the wrestler was in fact hospitalised on Wednesday morning after her actions, which understandably would have taken their toll on her body.
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Her disqualification came on Wednesday morning ahead of the gold medal match (pictured on Tuesday after beating Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba)
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Phogat reportedly cut her hair and even drew blood in an attempt to make the necessary weight
The news brought an outpouring of sympathy for her compatriots, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing her as a ‘champion among champions’ on social media platform X.
‘You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian,’ Modi said.
‘Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on.
‘Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you.’
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic gold in 2008, said he was ‘completely gutted’.
‘Sometimes you don’t need a gold medal to be a true champion to people,’ he added.
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Phogat was one of several Indian wrestlers who came out in protest last year seeking criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, then chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and a part of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
Singh has denied any wrongdoing following complaints by women wrestlers.
