Vinesh and the rapid weight-loss theory

Karam Prakash

Chandigarh, April 25

The disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Rio Olympics qualifying event held in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) is a major embarrassment for Indian wrestling. Vinesh weighed 400gm more than stipulated for the 48kg category event and thus lost an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics through this tournament.

How could such a disaster befall a professional sportsperson, being looked after by a professional coach and supported by a national wrestling association?

To understand this, we need to understand the dynamics of wrestling — it’s an intense sport which is very tough on the body. To build up their strength, the wrestlers must eat well, but they also need to make sure that they do not gain weight. They must strive to remain within their weight divisions.

Cutting weight

To compete in their weight categories, ‘cutting weight’ is a universal phenomenon in the world of wrestling. Every wrestler tries to adopt this. As they approach a competitive event, wrestlers usually weigh more than allowed in their weight categories. Then they try to lose weight close to the event, and try to be within the stipulated limit on the weigh-in day, which is a day before competition.

To lose weight, they usually use one of these two methods — Rapid weight loss (RWL) method or Systematic long term weight loss (SLTWL).

Indian wrestlers mostly use the RWL method, which is a non-scientific and conventional one. It starts three to seven days before the weigh-in day.

In this method, the wrestlers, firstly, dehydrate their body by restricting fluid intake; and by sweating out with the help of the sauna procedure, and rubber suit and aerobic training (low pace exercises).

Secondly, they restrict their food intake, sometimes to the level of semi-starvation.

There are some factors which influence the process of RWL:

Weather: It plays an important role, especially the cold weather. If it is cold, losing weight by sweating out becomes less effective. Vinesh was probably a victim of this factor. She and the other female wrestlers were practising in Bulgaria, where the temperature was very low (5-10 Celsius), before the Mongolia qualifying event.

Body composition: This is also an important factor because the fat percentage, muscle mass and lean mass of a wrestler determine the extent and rate of weight reduction.

Individual experience and personal philosophy: Previous experience of weight reduction and personal belief (about methods) of individual wrestlers also play a huge role in reducing body weight.

Role of supporting staff: Monitoring and motivation by coaches, managers, and team members also have an important role in achieving the desired weight target.

Experts believe that if the desired weight reduction is up to 5% of the total body weight, the RWL method may work very well. But if a wrestler needs to lose more than 5% of body weight, he/she should resort to the SLTWL method.

Most of the Indian wrestlers, especially in the lower weight categories, reduce their weight by 8-10%. Vinesh and Babita reduce about 10% of their body weight in the run-up to a competition, that too with the RWL method. This can affect their performance adversely.

It may be added that there are certain competitions such as the World Cup in which a 2kg relaxation is given. But in competitions such as the Olympics, World Championships and qualifying tournaments, there is no such relaxation for the grapplers.

During the national trials, instead of checking their actual weight, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) gives a 2kg allowance before every international tournament, in order to make it easier for the wrestlers to make their weight during the trials to get into the team. But when they go for international tournaments, where actual weight is seen, they find it difficult to make their weight category.

There have been many instances of Indian wrestlers getting disqualified for being overweight. Two high-profile ones involved Babita Phogat (disqualified in the 2012 Asian Championship in South Korea) and Pappu Yadav (overweight in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics).

Experts believe that to avoid these embarrassing situations, the WFI must check the actual weight of the grapplers during the trials, without the 2kg allowance. Also, the weather conditions of the training camp venue and competition venue should be taken into consideration.