WFI to investigate Vinesh Phogat's support staff post-Olympics disqualification (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 7, 2024 18:53 IST

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh said an investigation would be initiated into wrestler Vinesh Phogat's support staff after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics, hours ahead of her gold medal bout. Vinesh, who weighed almost 100 grams over the allowed limit, saw her semi-final opponent, Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman, advance to the final in her place.

Sanjay Singh, who also spoke to India Today on Wednesday afternoon, stressed that the failed weigh-in was not Vinesh Phogat’s fault and that her support staff, including coach Woller Akos and physio Ashwini Jiwan Patil, need to take responsibility for the missed medal. As the nation was hoping to see the first female Olympic champion, the news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification due to the failed weigh-in in Paris on Wednesday morning sent shockwaves.

Vinesh's usual weight is around 57 kg, but she competes in the 50 kg category, requiring significant effort to stay within the limit. Before her semi-final match, Vinesh's weight was precariously close to the threshold at 49.9 kg. Post-match, she weighed 52.7 kg and had to work continuously to reduce it without breaks for food or drink. Despite efforts, she managed to get down to 50.1 kg by the next morning but ran out of time to shed the remaining weight.

It was Vinesh Phogat's third Olympic appearance, but her first in the women's 50kg category. Previously, the Haryana wrestler competed in the 53kg category. However, she had to vacate that weight class after young Antim Panghal secured a quota for India in that category, prompting Vinesh to drop down to 50kg, where she won India's selection trials.

This situation raises questions about the role and responsibility of her support staff, including her renowned Hungarian coach Woller Akos and physio Ashwini Jiwan Patil. Reports suggest that Vinesh gained a couple of kilos by Tuesday night. In a desperate attempt to bring her weight down, her team resorted to extreme measures. Vinesh endured a sleepless night, consuming minimal water, and spent hours exercising at the Olympic Games village gym.

WHAT DID TEAM INDIA DOCTOR SAY

Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the Chief Medical Officer of the Indian contingent, confirmed that drastic measures were taken to reduce Vinesh's weight. Pardiwala confirmed that even cut Vinesh’s hair on Wednesday morning, but were not able to shed the final 100 grams.

“Weight cuts cause weakness and energy depletion. This is counterproductive to participation. So most wrestlers will thereafter go in for some amount of energy restoration with limited water and high-energy foods. These are usually given after the weigh-in. The calculation from the nutritionist that is done is athlete-specific. Vinesh's nutritionist felt that the usual amount that she takes -- which is about 1.5kg of nutrition over the day which gives enough to give her energy for the bouts," Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala said on Wednesday.

"Sometimes, there's also a factor of rebound weight gain following competition. Vinesh had three bouts. Hence to prevent any dehydration, some amount of water had to be given. We found that her post-participation weight had increased more than normal.

"The coach initiated the normal process of weight cut that he always employed with Vinesh. He felt confident that this would help her lose weight,” he said, adding that all their efforts went in vain.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to lodge a strong protest with the Paris Olympics organizers following Vinesh Phogat's disqualification ahead of her gold medal match. The Prime Minister spoke with IOA chairperson PT Usha, requesting her to explore options to support Phogat's case, sources said.

The International Olympic Committee has confirmed Vinesh's disqualification from the women’s 50 kg event, with Cuba's Lopez Yusneylis now set to fight for the gold medal. The investigation will seek to understand why the support staff failed to effectively monitor and manage Vinesh's weight, a question that has left the nation seeking answers.