Paris Olympics 2024 | ‘It’s a collective failure’: Wrestling coach Jagmal Singh on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification

Behind every champion wrestler on the mat, there is a large team of backroom staff responsible for keeping the athlete in shape 24x7. This team comprises coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, doctors, masseurs and technical experts, who work closely with the grappler throughout competition. And Vinesh Phogat's failure to meet her 50kg weight limit for her Olympic gold medal bout on Wednesday is a collective failure of this group, says former national-level wrestling coach Jagmal Singh, who trained Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Narsingh Yadav.

‘Team must accept blame'

"This is clearly a collective failure of the entire team that is accompanying Vinesh, 29, for the Paris Olympics. No one should can escape this blame because clearly, if she can make the 50kg category on Day One of the competition [Vinesh had weighed at 49.90kg], she should be able to do the same on Day 2 of the competition," Jagmal, 64, who retired after a three-decade long coaching career in 2020, told mid-day.

IOA President PT Usha (right) meets Vinesh Phogat after the latter was hospitalised following her disqualification yesterday. Pics/PTI

On Wednesday morning, the wrestling world was rocked by the news that Vinesh had been disqualified for weighing in 100 gms above the prescribed limit for her 50 kg gold medal bout against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. This after a gruelling day that saw her win three bouts, including the first against Japan's Yui Susaki, a four-time world champion and reigning and Olympic champion, who had never lost a bout before.

Also Read: 'This is biggest heartbreak': Phogat's disqualification leaves India reeling

Jagmal Singh

According to the Indian Olympic Association sources, when Vinesh weighed in at 52.7kg on Tuesday evening after her three bouts, she undertook cardio training to sweat it out for weight loss. She also spent the whole night in the sauna and did not sleep, yet she was overweight by 100gm. It is learnt that blood was also drawn from Vinesh in a desperate bid to reduce her weight.

Sudden weight gain, a worry

Jagmal said that Vinesh might have had a sudden and more than expected weight spike which would have taken her coaching team by surprise. "When a wrestler loses two to three kilos suddenly, then, when they consume even a small amount of food, there could be a sudden weight surge. I believe Vinesh was prescribed 1.5 kg of food to sustain the day. This may have caused a sudden and more than expected surge in Vinesh's weight. Her support staff were clearly not expecting this and failed to deal with it," explained Jagmal, adding that given Vinesh's professional set-up, things should have been handled better. "Wrestlers struggling with weight issues is common. Even in Narsingh's case we've done things like water in-take restriction, food restriction and exercises.

Also Read: Chief medical officer reveals 'drastic' steps taken to cut Vinesh's weight

‘Vinesh's case is different'

But Vinesh's case is different since she's originally over 55kg [Vinesh's normal weight is 56 kg] and was fighting in a category lower than her regular 53kg. So, her team should have been more cautious. She has her own nutritionist who supervises her food. She has her own physio and coach to look after her training. These people knew she has a problem with weight so they should have done more to help her. The athlete can't be blamed at all," concluded Jagmal.

Expert view

Dietician and nutritionist Krutuja Hukeri provides possible reasons for sudden weight gain which Vinesh Phogat experienced.

(i) Menstrual cycle and weight gain: The menstrual cycle affects the weight. Women tend to gain weight in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle which can lead to fluid retention.

(ii) Travel and water retention: Travel and environmental changes can affect metabolism and lead to water retention. Stress and changes in routine can impact the body's fluid balance and metabolism.

(iii) Post-fight cortisol increase and inflammation: Elevated cortisol levels post-fight can lead to muscle breakdown and fat accumulation.

(iv) Timing of Last Meal: The timing of the last meal before a competition can influence weight and performance.

(v) Dehydration and rehydration: Wrestlers often engage in dehydration to make weight for a match and rehydrate rapidly afterwards. This cycle can lead to fluctuations in weight due to fluid retention and loss.

Indians in action today

Golf
Women's individual: Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar… 12:30

Athletics
Women's 100m hurdles repechage round: Jyothi Yarraji… 14:05
Men's javelin throw final: Neeraj Chopra… 23:55

Wrestling
Men's 57kg freestyle 1/8 finals: Aman Sehrawat... 14:30
Women's 57kg freestyle 1/8 finals: Anshu Malik... 14:30

Hockey
Men's bronze medal match: India v Spain... 17:30