Vinesh Phogat has been hospitalised due to dehydration in Paris after being disqualified from competing in the final of 50kg freestyle wrestling today at the Olympics. For the unversed, things have changed dramatically since Vinesh reached the final and this morning (August 7), she was disqualified from competing after being 100 grams overweight in her category.
Her uncle Mahavir Phogat also confirmed the development stating that Vinesh tried extremely hard overnight without sleeping and exercising to reduce her weight. She also did cycling and skipping but in the end, her efforts were in vain. According to the rules, Vinesh Phogat has been ranked last and will not be getting a medal now. Her opponent in the final, USA's Sarah Hildebrandt has been awarded the gold medal now while there will be no silver medal in this event.
As far as the rules are concerned, all the wrestlers are weighed before being allowed in their particular category. Vinesh Phogat's weight was 50kg on Tuesday (August 6) and accordingly, competed and qualified for the final winning three matches on the bounce. But things changed dramatically overnight and despite her immense efforts, she couldn't weigh in as per her category and hence, was disqualified. It has been confirmed that Vinesh weighed only 100 grams more and despite repeated requests from the Indian contingent, she wasn't allowed more time to shed their extra weight.
Here's the rule in detail:
For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning for the concerned weight category. The weigh-in and the medical control lasts 30 minutes. The second morning of the concerned weight category only the wrestlers who participate in the repechages and finals have to come for the weigh-in. This weigh-in will last 15 minutes.
No wrestler may be accepted at the weigh-in if he has not undergone a medical examination the first morning. Wrestlers must appear at the medical examination and the weigh-in with their license and accreditation.
The only uniform allowed for the weigh-in is the singlet. After having been examined by qualified physicians who are obliged to eliminate any wrestler who presents any danger of contagious disease, the wrestler can be weighed in. No weight tolerance will be allowed for the singlet.
Contestants must be in perfect physical condition, with their fingernails cut very short.
Throughout the entire weigh-in period, wrestlers have the right, each in turn, to get on the scale as many times as they wish. The referees responsible for the weigh-in must check that all wrestlers are of the weight corresponding to the category in which they are entered for the competition, that they fulfil all the requirements of Article 5 and to inform any wrestler of the risk he runs if he presents himself on the mat in incorrect dress. Referees will refuse to weigh a wrestler who is not dressed correctly.
The referees responsible for the weigh-in will receive the results of the draw and will be allowed to control only the athletes who are on this list. If an athlete does not attend or fails the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he/she will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last, without rank. If an athlete is injured during the first day, he doesn't have to attend the second weigh-in and will keep his results.
