New Delhi: The sporting fraternity of India has held its breath for a long time now as they still await the decision on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) over her disqualification from the final of the Paris Olympics 2024. The ad-hoc division of the CAS had heard the arguments of all the parties and was ready to deliver the decision on August 10 but it was somehow deferred.
The hearing took place on August 9, Friday but got delayed by a few hours from its original scheduled time. On Saturday, India waited with bated breaths as the CAS released a statement announcing the decision on the day itself but the wait still continued. There were reports of the decision arriving before the culmination of the Paris Games, i.e. on August 11, Sunday but… the decision date made a shift again, now to August 13.
Why was Vinesh disqualified?
Vinesh had become the first Indian woman wrestler to make it to the final of an Olympic event but on the day of her final bout, something ominous hit her and the entire India. Competing in the women’s freestyle 50kg event, she bagged three wins on the trot – all on the same day as she started her Paris campaign on a high. As per a mandate, she was to go for the second-day weigh-in (on Wednesday) and the scales showed her 100 grams overweight than prescribed as she was straight disqualified by the organisers for not being under the weight limit for the category she fights under.
Vinesh had beaten defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the pre-quarterfinal, followed by a victory in the quarterfinal against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach. She made it to the semi-final where she faced Yusneylys Guzman of Cuba and beat her to make it to a historic final. She was to face the eventual gold-winner Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States, who later took on Guzman in the final bout.
What was Vinesh’s appeal?
The crestfallen grappler appealed against the decision at the CAS on Wednesday itself and demanded that she be given a joint silver medal. This was one of the two appeals filed by her and ultimately accepted by the CAS. The first appeal was to let her partake in the final bout which was rejected by the court. Guzman won the silver medal thereafter after being promoted to the final following the Indian’s disqualification.
Just a day after, Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport, saying she doesn’t have the strength to continue.
More to follow…
Vinesh Phogat’s fate still hangs in balance after she lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against her disqualification from Paris 2024 Olympics final. The verdict is due to be announced on August 13, Tuesday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
