Vinesh Phogat disqualified: Coaches and support staff are blamed for her weight increase

Paris Olympics 2024 saw a turn of events when Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being “overweight” before the finals.

In a tragic turn of events for India, Indian wrestler and top contender of winning a gold for India in the finals, Vinesh Phogat, was disqualified from this year’s Olympics. India’s heart is broken with the news, as she was seen as a true contender to win India a medal. Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh also urged the central government to take strict action against those responsible.

Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024.

India’s wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat, who had successfully reached the finals at the Olympics in Paris, was disqualified hours before her historical gold medal bout against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Citing reasons for being overweight, Vinesh was ousted from this year’s Olympics. She was found overweight from the permissible limit of 50kg, her weight category at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Strict against coaches and support staff.

Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh has blamed the coaches and the support staff for the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat, coming this close to winning the gold at the Olympics. He has urged the central government to take strict action against those responsible. He said it was the coach’s responsibility to ensure she was within 50kg before the gold medal bout and highlighted, “I don’t think Vinesh is at fault here. She was performing wonderfully, and the entire responsibility here is of her coach and the supporting staff. A probe should be done to see how her weight increased. I urge the central government to take strict action against them (the coach and the supporting staff).”

The WFI chief also said he spoke to the United World Wrestling (UWW) officials and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to allow Vinesh some relaxation, but it was declined. He said, “The entire country was expecting a gold medal, but she was disqualified due to her weight. I hope God will strengthen her, and the entire nation is with her.”