Vinesh Phogat was rushed to the Olympic Village polyclinic following severe dehydration caused by extreme measures taken to meet the weight requirements for her women’s 50 kg wrestling final.
The 29-year-old grappler, who had come within hours of potentially winning a gold medal, was disqualified from the Olympics after being found 100 grams overweight.
Phogat’s drastic steps to shed weight, including skipping meals and restricting fluid intake, resulted in her needing medical care. Despite her remarkable performance that had earned her a spot in the gold medal bout, she was forced to return empty-handed due to the disqualification.
“She was found overweight by 100 grams this morning. The rules are strict and do not allow any deviations, which led to her disqualification,” an Indian coach explained.
Vinesh had made history by reaching the gold medal bout, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to do so. Prior to the weigh-in, she was assured at least a silver medal. The disqualification came as a crushing blow, ending her bid for a medal.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed the disqualification and requested privacy for Phogat.
“It is with deep regret that the Indian contingent announces the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the women’s 50 kg wrestling class. Despite the team’s best efforts, she weighed in slightly over the 50 kg limit this morning,” the IOA stated. “We will not be making further comments at this time and ask for respect for Vinesh’s privacy as we focus on the remaining competitions.”
International wrestling rules dictate that any athlete who fails to meet the weight limit at the weigh-in is placed at the bottom of the final standings.
Phogat’s disqualification was a significant disappointment, especially following her victory over defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan. She was scheduled to face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the finals.
Additionally, Italy’s Emanuela Liuzzi faced a similar fate, having to forfeit her preliminary bout after being found overweight.
