New Delhi: It is a great injustice that international wrestler Vinesha Phogat was disqualified from the Olympic wrestling final because her weight was just 100 grams over. It is essential to review the rules of the Olympic Games, opined former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai.

Commenting on the issue of Vinesh Phogat missing out on a chance in the Olympic final during a media interaction here on Wednesday, he said generally, the weight and other qualifications are checked at the start of any competition. However, the practice of checking weight in each round is not seen in any other sport. The decision to check weight in this Olympics is questionable. A person’s weight can vary by 100 to 300 grams daily. It is unreasonable to suspend a participant from the competition due to a 100-gram increase in weight. It is natural for a human body’s weight to increase or decrease based on its metabolic process. When metabolic activities decrease, weight increases; when metabolic activities increase, weight decreases. This is a natural process. Therefore, the decision to deny her participation based on weight gain is a significant injustice, and it needs to be reconsidered.

Bommai said that the Olympic Games are not entirely free from controversies, and sometimes politics plays a role there too. Some people are deliberately kept out, and as a result, some have faced punishment. The Union Sports Minister should take this issue seriously and bring it to the Olympic Board. Under no circumstances should Vinesha Phogat be deprived of her chance to play in the wrestling final. All Indians feel that she should be given a chance.

The MP said previously, Vinesha Phogat was also unable to compete, and this time it is an even greater injustice. Efforts must be made in every possible way to correct this injustice and ensure she gets a chance. If she gets a chance in the final, there is confidence that she will win the gold medal. Everyone believes that she will bring home a gold medal from the Olympics. Otherwise, it seems very difficult for India to secure a gold medal. This issue must be taken seriously and discussed with the Olympic Committee to reach a resolution, he added.