Vinesh Phogat is out of the Paris Olympics. Today she was to compete against Sarah Hildebrandt of America in the 50 kg category for the gold medal. As per the Olympic rules, when Vinesh’s weight was measured in the morning, it was found to be 100 grams more than 50 kg.
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What are the rules of measuring weight in wrestling, could 100 grams not have been reduced, what will happen next in the Vinesh case; you will know the answers to 10 important questions in Bhaskar Explainer…
Question-1: In how many sports in Olympics are there weight categories for players?
Answer: There are mainly weight categories in three sports in the Olympics – weight lifting, boxing and wrestling. There are 6 different weight categories for men and women in wrestling. Vinesh Phogat was playing in the 50 kg weight category.
Question-2: What are the rules of weight measurement in wrestling, in which Vinesh Phogat failed?
Answer: There is a whole process defined for measuring weight in wrestling…
- Wrestling competition for each weight category lasts for 2 days. That is, the weight of any wrestler who reaches the final or repechage will be measured for two days.
- Wrestlers are weighed in the morning before the first day’s play. During this time they get 30 minutes. They can climb on the scale as many times as they want. On the first day, Vinesh Phogat’s weight was under 50 kg.
- The wrestlers participating in the competition on the second day are weighed again in the morning. On the second day, they get only 15 minutes. During this time, they can climb on the scale as many times as they want. On the second day, Vinesh Phogat’s weight was 100 grams more than 50 kg.
- During weighing of the contestants, wrestlers can only wear singlet. That is, the dress in which they wrestle.
- During this time, it is also checked whether the player has any symptoms of any infectious disease. Also, his nails are checked. They should be cut and short.
- Authorized officials of United World Wrestling (UWW) measure the weight. The entire process is video recorded and the data is recorded on a computer. A player can enter the ring only after the approval of the officials of United World Wrestling.
Question-3: Can 100 grams of weight be reduced in half an hour?
answer: Yes, 100 grams of weight can be reduced in half an hour. Many players have done this before. Indian boxer Mary Kom lost two kilos of weight in four hours in the Silesian Open Boxing Tournament held in Poland. Then she skipped for an hour.
Boxer Mary Kom with the gold medal at the Silesian Open Boxing Tournament
According to media reports, Vinesh’s weight increased by about 2 kg on the night of August 6. She did not sleep the whole night. She tried everything to reduce her weight – from jogging to skipping and cycling. She started feeling dizzy due to dehydration. Despite this, her weight remained 100 grams more and she got disqualified.
Question-4: What difference would 100 grams make? Can’t this much concession be given?
answer: In the world of sports, especially in the Olympics, even 10 grams matters. Weight categories have been created to ensure fair play. When players of the same weight fight, they will use the same amount of force. If someone’s weight is 100 grams more, it means he is using 100 grams more force. This is not a fair game.
Question-5: Can a player play in a weight category higher than his actual weight if he gains excess weight?
Answer: This can happen. A player can play in the next two categories if he is over his set weight. For this, he will have to show a weight one gram more than his weight, but this will not happen in Vinesh’s case. Which player will play in which weight category in the Olympics is already decided. That is, if Vinesh Phogat is disqualified due to excess weight, she cannot wrestle in the 53 kg category instead of the 50 kg category.
Question-6: How is it decided in which weight category a player will play in wrestling?
answer: It is decided at the district level in which category a wrestler will fight. A wrestler in the respective category qualifies from district to state, from state to national and from national to Olympics. Wrestling Federation in the country does the weighing and medical.
For example, a player will fight in the 50 kg category. There are 10 players from one district, the one who defeats these 9 players will go to the state level. Winning wrestlers from every district come to the state level. The winner here plays at the national level.
At the national level, wrestlers selected from each state compete. The wrestler who performs best at the national level qualifies for the Olympics.
Question-7: If a player wants to change his weight category, what should he do?
Answer: According to the International Wrestling Rules of ‘United World Wrestling’, ‘Players can play in the next weight category higher than their current weight. There is an exemption in the heavy weight category. To play in the heavy weight category, the weight of a male player should be more than 97 kg and that of a female player should be more than 72 kg.’
Understand this with an example, if the weight of a female player is 52 kg then she can play in the weight category of 53 kg. But for this, it has to be informed in advance, for which there is a complete process.
Question-8: If a player gets disqualified, what impact does it have on the other players?
Answer: Different stages can have different effects. In the case of Vinesh Phogat, the gold medal match will now be between American wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt and Cuban wrestler Lopez. The Olympic organizers said in their official statement, ‘According to Article 11 of the International Wrestling Rules, Vinesh will be replaced by the wrestler who lost to her in the semi-finals. Therefore, Yusnelis Guzman Lopez will play the final.’
The statement further said that the bronze medal will now be contested between Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki and Ukraine’s Oxana Livach. Susaki lost to Vinesh in the opening round and was eliminated, while Oxana Livach lost to Vinesh in the quarter-finals.
This picture of Vinesh Phogat is viral on social media. It is being said that Vinesh was extremely disappointed after being excluded from the Olympics.
Question-9: Have there been any disqualifications after matches due to weight issues before?
Answer: Not after the match, but in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Indian wrestler Pappu Yadav was disqualified even before the match started. He was a contender in the 48 kg category. After winning the trial match, his weight was measured and he was found to be overweight and he was not allowed to play any match in that Olympics.
Question-10: Can Vinesh Phogat get a chance to play again?
answer: No, according to the Olympic rules, once a player is disqualified, he cannot get another chance. Therefore, Vinesh Phogat will not be able to play further in the Paris Olympics and will have to return empty-handed.
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Experts Panel
1. Kripa Shankar Patel Bishnoi: Arjuna Award winning Indian wrestler and coach.
2. Rajesh Saroha: Indian wrestler and coach.