Vinesh Phogat Olympics disqualified: What does the rule book say? Was Vinesh's disqualification within the rules?

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was set to compete in the women’s freestyle 50kg gold medal match at the Paris Olympics 2024, faced a heartbreaking disqualification. Scheduled to face USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt on Wednesday, August 7, at 11:00 PM IST, Vinesh's dreams were dashed after failing to make the weight cut.

Vinesh Phogat's journey to the finals was nothing short of inspiring. She overcame formidable opponents, including World No. 1 and Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Susaki Yui, in the Round of 16. Vinesh Phogat then defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals and Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzmán in the semifinals. Her stellar performance made her the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final, confirming a gold/silver medal for India.

However, Vinesh and Indians fans' dreams were shattered after an unexpected hurdle as she failed to make the weight cut by a mere 100 grams, leading to her disqualification.

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Understanding Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification and the UWW Rules on Weigh-In

Despite her and her team's best efforts to reduce her weight overnight, Vinesh Phogat was 100 grams over the 50kg limit during the weigh-in on the morning of her finals. This slight excess led to her disqualification as per the UWW rules, which state there is no tolerance for even minor weight discrepancies.

The rule book mandates that wrestlers must meet the exact weight criteria to compete, and Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, though heartbreaking, was strictly within these regulations.

UWW’s Article 11 on Weigh-in

“For all competitions, the weigh-in is organized each morning of 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 received 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 fail the weigh-in (the 1st or the 2nd weigh-in), he will be eliminated of the competition and ranked last, without rank.”