Explained: How 100 extra grams cost Vinesh Phogat Olympic medal
What's the story
In a massive blow to the Indian contingent competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, wrestler Vinesh Phogat got disqualified ahead of her gold-medal match scheduled on August 7. Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to make it to an Olympic final, however, it turned into heartbreak as she failed to make the weight for her 50 kg final bout. Here's more.
Incident
Vinesh weighed in slightly over the permissible mark
As mentioned, Vinesh became the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final after defeating Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semi-final. In the R16, she triumphed over Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan, handing the Japanese wrestler her first loss in 82 international matches. However, the Indian wrestler weighed a few grams over the permissible limit for her 50 kg category.
Category
Vinesh encountered similar issues at Rio Olympics
This is not the first instance of Vinesh struggling to meet the 50kg weight category, lower than her usual 53kg class. She encountered a similar challenge during the Rio Olympic qualifiers. At the Paris Games, Vinesh stayed up all night in order to lose 2kg. The Indian delegation also requested extra time for her to lose the final 100 grams, but to no avail.
Information
Vinesh was wighed in twice
As per ESPN, wrestlers are weight in both on the morning of the preliminary rounds and the day of the final rounds. Vinesh made the weight for her preliminary rounds but was 100 grams above 50kg on Wednesday, the day of her final.
Rules
Rules about the weight cut
As per the Article 8 Competition System of UWW's rulebook, "The medical control and a first weigh-in will be held the morning of the concerned weight category." "The qualified athletes for the finals and repechages will be weigh-in again the second morning of the concerned weight category. No more weight tolerance will be allowed for the second weigh-in."
Olympics
Another heartbreak for Vinesh
Vinesh made her Olympics debut at the 2016 Rio Games. She lost the 48kg quarter-final to Sun Yanan of China after facing an untimely knee injury. The Indian wrestler lost the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quarter-final (53kg category) to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya. In Paris, Vinesh became the first-ever Indian female wrestler to make three successive Olympic Games. She is yet again devoid of the coveted medal.
Information
Vinesh secured Paris Games berth in 50kg category
It is worth noting that Vinesh had claimed her Paris Games berth after prevailing in the Asian Olympic Games qualifier, having dropped down to the 50kg category. Vinesh beat Republic of Korea's Miran Cheon 10-0 through technical superiority in the qualifier.