Vinesh Phogat CAS Hearing: Sports Court Defers Indian Wrestler’s Verdict On Paris Olympics Disqualification Till August 11

New Delhi: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has postponed the verdict on Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal to August 11, with the detailed reasoning to be issued at a later date. Vinesh had initially appealed for reinstatement in the gold medal bout but later modified her plea, requesting to be awarded a joint silver medal.

“The ad-hoc division of CAS has extended time till 6.00 p.m. on August 11, 2024, for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee to issue a decision. The reasoned order will be issued at a later date,” an IOA statement read on Saturday.

The 29-year-old wrestler faced disqualification on the morning of the final after exceeding the weight limit by just over 100 grams. Notably, Vinesh weighed in at 49.90kg on Tuesday morning before her first-round match, comfortably within the permissible range.

However, as the day progressed and she clinched three consecutive victories—including a notable win over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki—Vinesh’s weight increased, leading to her disqualification despite her stellar performance.

In the aftermath, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba, whom Vinesh had defeated in the semifinals, took her place in the gold medal match. The bout concluded with Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA claiming victory. Vinesh’s current appeal seeks to secure a joint silver medal in recognition of her efforts.

A day after getting disqualified, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement on social media, bringing a fantastic wrestling career to a close. Many are shocked by the development, considering that she worked hard to make it to the final round. The emotional message shook the fans and fellow athletes alike since it came out of a deep sense of attachment to the sport, which was a lifetime passion.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has already felt its presence at the ongoing Paris Olympics, stepping in to correct an error by the Badminton World Federation. The move followed after the BWF excluded the French duo, Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar, inadvertently from the men’s doubles competition. Thanks to the very timely and decisive action taken by CAS, this pair got reinstated to compete in the Olympic Events, which only underscores the critical role of CAS as a guarantor of fairness and justice in Olympic competition.