Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleges "negligence of staff" who accompanied wrestler Vinesh Phogat over disqualification
Aug 08, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 8 : Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged negligence of staff who had accompanied wrestler Vinesh Phogat to the Paris Olympics for her disqualification.
"In whatever has happened, there is negligence of the staff that had gone along with her. She was weighed before the match in which she won the silver. She must have been under 50 kg, only then she must have been allowed. Then we should get that silver," Tiwari said while speaking to ANI.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50 kg women's wrestling event on Wednesday. Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified. Vinesh Phogat had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
Phogat on Thursday announced her retirement from wrestling following her disqualification in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics. Phogat also appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following her disqualification on Wednesday.
Haryana CM Nayab Saini on Thursday said that Phogat will be welcomed and felicitated like an Olympic medal winner and all respect, rewards and facilities that the state government gives to Olympic silver medalists "will be gratefully given to Phogat as well."
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha expressed her shock and disappointment over Phogat's disqualification. She confirmed that while Phogat is physically and medically fine, she is disappointed. Usha noted that the support staff is actively working to help Phogat manage her weight.
Dinshaw Pardiwala, Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Olympic contingent, said that Phogat exceeded the weight limit by 2.7 kg after her semi-final bout. He added that efforts were made to reduce her weight by restricting her food and water intake.
In a fine career, Vinesh secured two World Championships bronze medals (2019 and 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014) and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022). She was also a gold medalist in the Asian Championships at 2021 and has won silver and bronze at the continental level too.
