'Are They Tourists?': Wrestling Federation Chief Blasts Vinesh Phogat's Support Staff After Olympic Disqualification

With Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the final of women's 50 kg final at the Paris Olympics, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has raised questions on the presence of her personal coach and support staff, wondering what they are doing in Paris. With Vinesh disqualified from participating in the final, the entire country is pondering the question as to how a mistake of such magnitude be made on such a big stage.

On Wednesday, the WFI president directed those questions towards Vinesh's coach, dietician and physio and said that they should be held accountable for the embarrassing situation. “The player is fully concentrated on her practice which is why it would be unfair to blame her for this. Why is the support staff sent with the athlete, and the government sends them along with the player, ‘Wo sab wahan tafri karne gaye hai kya (have they gone there for tourism)?' Sanjay Singh said.

"An athlete who has won three of her bouts has to concentrate on her game, the staff is supposed to keep all other details in check,” Sanjay Singh told IANS in an exclusive interview.

Vinesh was disqualified as she failed her final weight check, turning out to be 100gm overweight despite attempting to make valiant attempts to shed the 2.7 kg she had picked to replenish the energy lost on Tuesday.

Despite being under the required weight limit on Tuesday, Phogat was needed to replenish after her three exerting bouts which saw her go above the weight limit. She spent the night trying to reduce weight to below the 50 kg mark and was seen skipping, cycling and jogging in her best effort to make it but eventually could not meet the target.

The team doing incredible work behind the scenes with @Phogat_Vinesh

(Standing