NEW DELHI: In a surprising development, India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was a strong favourite for a gold medal, was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics finals on Wednesday morning.
The disqualification was due to a sudden increase in her weight, which prevented her from competing against the United States' Ann Hildebrandt in the women's 50 kg wrestling final.
Phogat had successfully weighed in at 49.90 kg on Tuesday morning, allowing her to compete in her first match of the day. She went on to win three bouts, including the semi-final. However, her weight unexpectedly increased to approximately 52.7 kg, resulting in her disqualification.
In response, the Indian wrestling team, determined to resolve the issue, enlisted the help of Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, a renowned sports orthopedic surgeon. Chef de Mission Gagan Narang, along with Dr. Pardiwala, Phogat's husband, physiotherapist, medical staff, and officials from the Indian Olympic Association, worked tirelessly through the night to help Phogat meet the weight requirements.
Despite their best efforts, they were unable to reduce her weight in time. Reports indicate that Dr. Pardiwala emphasized that Phogat's health was paramount and that compromising her well-being was not an option.
Who is Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala?Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala is a highly esteemed expert in sports medicine. He recently performed surgery on wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and has treated many notable cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.
With over two decades of experience, he currently serves as the Director of Arthroscopy and Shoulder Service at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. In recognition of his contributions to arthroscopic surgery, he received the prestigious ICOS John Joyce Award in 2009.
Despite this setback, Phogat's accomplishment of becoming the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic finals remains a significant milestone for Indian wrestling.
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