Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic dream comes crashing down due to weight management struggles. Explore her extreme measures, the weight category switch, and the impact on the Indian sporting fraternity.
A Dream Shattered: Vinesh Phogat Disqualified from Paris Olympics 2024
India’s wrestling star Vinesh Phogat’s journey at the Paris Olympics 2024 ended in a heartbreaking disqualification. Just as the nation held its breath in anticipation of her gold medal bout, news emerged of her disqualification for exceeding the weight limit in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling category. This article delves into the details of this unfortunate turn of events, exploring Vinesh’s struggle with weight management and the impact on the Indian sporting community.
A Nation’s Hope: Vinesh Phogat, a name synonymous with wrestling excellence in India, had achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic wrestling final. Millions across the country were rooting for her as she prepared to battle for gold. However, their hopes were dashed on the eve of the final when Vinesh was disqualified for being approximately 100 grams overweight, despite being a whole kilogram overweight on Tuesday night.
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The Weight Category Challenge: Vinesh’s natural weight category falls within the 53kg bracket. However, for the Paris Olympics, she opted to compete in the 50kg category. This decision necessitated significant weight reduction efforts to meet the stringent weight limit. Reports reveal that Vinesh resorted to extreme measures to shed the necessary weight.
Extreme Measures and the Weight Cut: Vinesh’s struggle to fit within the 50kg category is an illustration of the dedication and sacrifices athletes make. Sources claim that Vinesh not only resorted to cutting her hair for weight reduction but also attempted to draw blood to fall under the weight limit. Additionally, she engaged in intense cycling sessions to induce sweating and achieve the desired weight.
The Final Push and Missed Target: Vinesh’s weight management struggles intensified after her weight inexplicably rose by 1kg on Tuesday night. While she managed to shed a significant amount (900 grams), the remaining 100 grams proved impossible to lose within the allotted timeframe.
Weigh-in Procedures and Athlete Perspective: Ravi Dahiya, another prominent Indian wrestler, shed light on the weigh-in procedures followed in wrestling events. Athletes are provided a specific window to bring their weight down to the designated limit. He explained that if an athlete weighs in overweight within the timeframe (e.g., exceeding the limit at 8:05 PM but having time until 8:30 PM), they are given a chance to shed the excess weight. However, failure to achieve the required weight within the stipulated deadline (e.g., being overweight at 8:31 PM) results in disqualification.
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Intense Training for Weight Control: Dahiya further revealed the rigorous methods athletes utilize to maintain weight limits during competition. This can involve intense training sessions even after bouts, followed by the complete omission of meals until the next day. In Vinesh’s case, reports claim that she immediately engaged in training after her Tuesday matches, skipping dinner and starting Wednesday with another training session in an attempt to shed weight.
Pre-Olympic Rigors: Sauna Sessions and Hair Cutting: Prior to arriving at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh had spoken openly about the challenges of competing in the 50kg category. This included her rigorous training regime, which incorporated intense sauna sessions to aid in weight reduction. Her coach also revealed plans to cut her hair before the Olympics for a potential weight reduction of 50 grams, although this was ultimately not carried out. However, reports suggest that Vinesh herself took the initiative to cut her hair at the Olympics in a desperate attempt to meet the weight limit requirement.
The Impact and Legacy of Vinesh Phogat: While Vinesh’s disqualification at the Paris Olympics undoubtedly comes as a crushing blow, it does not negate her exceptional achievements and contributions to Indian wrestling. Vinesh remains an inspiration to aspiring female wrestlers across the country. Her dedication, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to serve as a powerful motivator.
Looking Forward: Questions and Considerations: This incident raises questions about the potential health risks associated with extreme weight-cutting practices in wrestling. Perhaps a re-evaluation of weight categories and competition regulations might be in order to prioritize athlete health and well-being. Furthermore, exploring alternative methods of weight management that prioritize sustainable and healthy weight reduction strategies could be explored.
Reference: https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics-2024/haircut-no-water-or-food-for-days-what-vinesh-phogat-did-to-compete-in-different-weight-category-6282724
