How and Why of Vinesh Phogat Heartbreak at Paris Olympics

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This is a crazy story of disqualification in the Olympics. Vinesh Phogat was to battle for her gold medal bout in the 50kg weight category at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.

When she woke up and went to the weigh-in, which is mandatory, she found herself above the limit by 100gm. The UWW disqualified her and she was in tears and then put under an IV drip for dehydration.

Even as all the crazy stories broke on the internet on wrongdoing and how her weight could have shot up after competing in three bouts, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, head of the Indian medical contingent in Paris, explained the whole thing.

Dr Pardiwala said that it was normal for weight to bounce back after fighting hard bouts and this was managed in the past. What was baffling was despite exercise and sauna and work all night on weight management, Vinesh was over the limit so marginally.

It goes to show in sports like boxing, weightlifting and wrestling, what all an athlete has to do to stay in the right weight zone. And all this has to be done keeping in mind legal methods as no weight loss pills can be ingested or a diuretic.

Dr Pardiwala, who has operated on Vinesh, said all methods were tried, including cutting her hair and even the weight of the dress she wears. He also spoke of sauna baths and extreme methods like low-calorie consumption. However, Vinesh had to drink some water as her life would have been at risk and her renal system could have been damaged. Sadly, all this did not work and Vinesh was left in tears.

The Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha and Chef de mission Gagan Narang met Vinesh and comforted her. Messages of love and care came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya made a statement in Parliament as well on Wednesday.

Social media also overflowed with emotions as a medal which was in Vinesh's grasp eluded her. She will never be able to live with this disappointment, having failed in two previous attempts in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.

On Tuesday, Vinesh had fought on the mat with the aggression of a tigress. Sadly, after all those hard efforts, her weigh-in after the bouts showed she had gained weight. Her frantic attempts at weight loss were dangerous and she had done this before as well, before the Olympic qualifiers in Bishkek, in April.

When an athlete has a normal weight range of around 57kg, cutting it is dangerous. Doctors, nutritionists and health experts have always said, weight loss beyond a stage is fraught with risks. In the case of Vinesh Phogat, her battle has been intense.

There is a strong case to say she must have kept her weight around 49kg ideally, but that would have made her weak. The muscle loss would then have led to weakness in the body. What Vinesh has attempted is to fight for glory and defy the logical ways.

If she is being celebrated today, it is for effort. After all, the lady who was seen as the face of street protests against the wrestling establishment has become a heroine. Sadly, the medal has slipped away from her. This is a tragedy which should not happen to anyone.

Another attempt at Olympic glory in Los Angeles in 2028 may be tough for Vinesh Phogat. But never rule her out.