Paris: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha stressed that all necessary measures were taken to help wrestler Vinesh Phogat reduce weight and make the cut for the 50 kg weight class final and promised that all measures are being taken to provide mental, emotional and technical support to her to tackle her disqualification from the Paris Olympic Games.
While informing that she had spoken to Vinesh Phogat in the Polyclinic at the Games Village, Usha was quoted as saying in reports that the Indian contingent's medical team helped Vinesh and her support staff reduce her weight to 50 kg for her final bout.
There were claims that the IOA and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) did not exploit all possible avenues to ensure Vinesh would return with at least a silver medal from the Olympics.
It is being suggested that Vinesh should have withdrawn from the event citing injury or ill health following her three bouts when it looked like she would not be able to achieve the permissible weight.
Usha said that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has filed an appeal with the United World Wrestling (UWW) to reconsider the decision to disqualify Vinesh.
The IOA President also claimed that she is aware of the efforts that were taken to ensure Vinesh lost weight.
"I am aware of the relentless efforts made by Vinesh, the medical team, led by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala and the Chef-de-Mission Gagan Narang through the night to ensure that she could meet the competition requirements," said Usha.
PM Modi dials IOA chief after Vinesh's setbackNew Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to PT Usha to seek first hand information on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the 50kg women's wrestling at the Paris Olympics. The Prime Minister also sought the options India has and asked the IOA chief to explore the full range of options to help Vinesh’s case. He also urged PT Usha to file a strong protest regarding the disqualification, if that helps the wrestler. The star Indian wrestler faced a major setback when she was disqualified for being weighed a few grams over the permissible limit. Following the disqualification, the Indian grappler will be placed last as per United World Wrestling rules. A former World No. 1 in 48 kg, Vinesh was participating in her third Olympics. She missed out on a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics because of an injury. In the Tokyo Olympics, she lost to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the 53kg quarterfinals. |
