The President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sanjay Singh, has placed the blame squarely on Vinesh Phogat’s support staff following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics. Singh, in a strongly worded statement, asserted that the fault did not lie with the wrestler, who he said was performing exceptionally well. He instead directed his ire at the coaches, physiotherapists, and nutritionists, stating they should have ensured she did not face any weight-related issues.
The disqualification occurred on the morning of her medal bout, with Phogat found to be 100 grams over the permissible weight limit. This incident came as a major blow to the Indian wrestler, who was on the cusp of glory in her third Olympic appearance. Singh, expressing his deep disappointment, demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and urged the Indian government to take strict action against those responsible, citing the profound disappointment they had caused to the nation.
He revealed that he had received a call from the village earlier that morning informing him of Phogat’s weight gain, and that he immediately contacted UWW officials. Despite his pleas for leniency and additional time, his requests were denied, as the officials strictly enforced the existing rules. Singh emphasized the emotional impact of the disqualification, highlighting the country’s anticipation of Phogat’s victory. He expressed his sympathy for the wrestler, stating that the entire nation stood with her in this difficult time.
In light of this incident, the WFI President called for a comprehensive reassessment of the current training protocols. He stressed the need for the federation to play a more active role in monitoring the training process and ensuring wrestlers practice with WFI-approved coaches who meet the UWW standards. This, he believes, would help prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
