Hours before disqualification, Vinesh Phogat took extreme steps to reduce weight, drew blood from her veins

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who faced a heartbreaking moment when she was disqualified from the final round of 50kg women's freestyle wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics, made all possible efforts overnight to lose weight after it went above the limit. 

Vinesh was on the verge of carving history after she emerged as the first Indian woman to reach the wrestling final in the Olympic Games. 

However, her fans and athletes received a massive shock when she was disqualified because she roughly weighed 100 grams more than the limit of 50 kg.

Here's how Vinesh Phogat tried to lose weight 

Usually, Vinesh used to compete in the 53 kg category, however, she took the decision to change her weight category for the Paris Olympic Games and shifted to the 50 kg category.

To ensure that the wrestler falls within the weight limit because the wrestler's natural weight does not align with the 50 kg category, she took some extreme steps.

Also Read: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat: A champion of hearts who was defeated by fate at cusp of sketching history at Olympics

According to the media reports, Vinesh took some extreme steps to fall in the weight category of 50 kg, like cutting her hair, and even drawing some blood out of her veins. She also did jogging, skipping and cycling to reduce weight.

She took these extreme steps after her weight increased on Tuesday night (August 6), according to media reports. With all her efforts, the wrestler managed to cut down some of her weight, however, the last 100 gm could not be lost.

Another Indian wrestler, Ravi Dahiya, said that after finishing her bouts, Phogat went for the training and did not eat anything. She started the day on Wednesday (August 7) with training.

Watch: Vinesh Phogat Disqualified: Couldn't meet the weight requirement at Paris Olympics 2024

To compete in the 50kg category, Vinesh went through intense sauna sessions at the Paris Olympics and her coach earlier wanted to cut her hair to reduce around 50 grams but didn't do so.

She went through a strict regimen of fasting and dehydration and avoided both water and food for an extended period of time to bring down her weight.

Phogat is a three-time Olympian from Haryana and the first Indian woman wrestler to clinch a gold at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

She has won multiple medals at the World Wrestling Championships and is the first Indian athlete to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)