Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Awaits CAS Ruling After Paris Olympics

Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification at the Paris Olympics has taken a fresh turn. The United World Wrestling (UWW) has reportedly opposed her plea and recent images of Vinesh leaving the Olympic Games Village in Paris have also appeared. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver the final verdict by 9:30 PM (IST) on August 13 (Tuesday).

Vinesh was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s 50kg wrestling final after missing the weight cut by 100 grams. Upon disqualification, she raised two appeals to CAS: one questioning her ineligibility for the final and the other to be considered for a joint silver medal. Vinesh's second appeal was accepted while the first one got rejected.

Vinesh got into the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle event after defeating Japanese wrestling legend Yui Susaki last Tuesday. She was, however, disqualified from the gold medal match against Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States on the second day due to her 100 grams of excess weight.

She protested against the UWW's ruling and argued in favour of a joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to Vinesh. Following her disqualification, the Indian wrestler announced her retirement from the sport.

IOA President PT Usha addressed the incident on Sunday, stating that it is unacceptable for anyone to criticize the continent's medical staff, particularly Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, in relation to Vinesh's tragic event. She remarked, “…the responsibility of weight management of athletes in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and judo is that of each athlete and his or her coach and NOT that of the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team. The hate directed at the IOA medical team, especially Dr. Pardiwala, is unacceptable and worthy of condemnation.”