Wrestlers cramming last-minute sweating, dehydrating and starving to force-fit into their weight categories isn't something new. But is it healthy? (Reuters)
At any wrestling championships, the common sight is of athletes in raincoats running rounds of indoor mats on eve of competition. Most of them are also fasting. Wrestlers cramming last-minute sweating, dehydrating and starving to force-fit into their weight categories isn’t something new. But is it healthy?
Dr Samuel Pullinger, head of Sports Science at JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport training centre at Vijayanagar in Karnataka, is trying to wean away the centre’s women wrestlers from this punishing pre weigh-in regime. Often considered a heroic struggle which it is and fairly global, the basis of the practice however is unhealthy.
Having noticed a constant stream of Anterior Cruciate Ligament knee injuries and rash of ligament tears, he has now insisted there would be no more sauna and wet suits-facilitated melting of weight.
“There were too many risks, the ACL and other serious injury count was high after too much weight was suddenly dropped and that offset any other power advantage. I decided to initiate them into gradual weight loss in the weeks preceding with help from coaches and nutritionists and Strength & Conditioning trainers, and dragging them away from malpractices that have set in to make weight,” Pullinger tells The Indian Express.
Dr Samuel Pullinger is trying to wean away the centre’s women wrestlers from this punishing pre weigh-in regime. (Express photo)
Wrestlers typically build muscle in the leadup to competition and maintain weight that’s 4-5 kg more than their official weight category, before embarking on an unhealthy crash weight loss ahead of competitions. The unscientific practice relies on them loading up till the last possible day, and then spending a couple of days before competition eating and drinking nothing or very minimal. Melting weight in saunas or in wet suits and going berserk on treadmills is not unknown.
It might even have yielded success for both men and women, as they leverage their muscle power compensating for dipping energy. But the effects of repeatedly doing this – for trials and competitions – can prove dire for women wrestlers.
Even once can be bad enough if it weakens the knee joint making it vulnerable.
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Nineteen -year-old women’s wrestler Hansaben Rathore recalls extreme starving, days ahead of competition before 2019 when she reached IIS. “Till recently, I would aim at losing even 5-6 kg overnight by restricting food and with heavy duty exercise. Not even 100ml of water was allowed. But I realised, while I sailed through Round 1 and 2, by the time it was the third or fourth bout and important medal rounds, I was collapsing with no energy,” she tells this newspaper.
It can prove to be the difference between settling for bronze, and having the capacity to fight for gold.
Hansaben Rathore recalls extreme starving, days ahead of competition before 2019 when she reached IIS. (Special Arrangement)
“Now, after regulating weight for weeks ahead, I leave only the last 500 gms or 1-2 kg which is water-based loss for the last day. I don’t stop eating. I’m focussed and relaxed and not energy deprived for medal bouts,” says the 57kg wrestler.
Pullinger has put in place a program where wrestlers’ weights are recorded every two days. And food intake is carefully monitored without compromising on health from two months before competition.
“It needs a lot of control because metabolism fluctuates. But the weight isn’t lost drastically. Oil, butter, wheat goes down in days leading up to competition. It’s grilled chicken instead of chicken curry and things like that. And there’s good food, fluid and supplementation after weigh-ins,” says the PhD from the UK, an English-French national, who was born in Belgium.
Pullinger insists the new practices will make training more sustainable. “Using science and prioritizing health, we are aiming at not just any medals, but gold medals for women wrestlers.”
Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball.
Professional Profile
Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express.
Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium.
Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025)
Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond:
Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style.
PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps.
The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals.
Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas.
Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes.
Notable Recent Articles
BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025)
The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025)
Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025)
Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025)
Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025)
Other Sports Interests
Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts.
You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More
Dr Samuel Pullinger is trying to wean away the centre’s women wrestlers from this punishing pre weigh-in regime. (Express photo)
Hansaben Rathore recalls extreme starving, days ahead of competition before 2019 when she reached IIS. (Special Arrangement)