Paris Olympics 2024: Vinesh Phogat Moves Court Of Arbitration For Sport, Requesting Joint-Silver Medal
New Delhi: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has moved to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after facing disqualification from the Women’s Freestyle 50kg final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, August 8.
According to reports, Vinesh has appealed to be reinstated for the gold-medal bout but is now requesting a joint-silver medal, with the CAS interim ruling expected on Thursday.
An Indian Olympic Association (IOA) source in the visiting Indian contingent confirmed the development to PTI.
“Yes, we got to know about it. It has been done by her team,” said the source.
An ad hoc division of the CAS has been established in Paris to resolve disputes arising during the Olympic Games or the 10 days preceding the Opening Ceremony. Indian wrestler Vinesh, disqualified from the competition, lost a confirmed silver medal and was set to face the USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, for the gold medal.
The 29-year-old wrestler was found to be a little over 100 grams above the 50kg weight limit during Wednesday morning’s weigh-in at 7:15 AM local time.
Vinesh started her Tuesday morning at a lean 49.90 kg, comfortably within the permissible limit. As the day progressed, she gained weight, but this didn’t slow her down. She triumphed in three consecutive matches, including a stunning victory over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki, securing her place in the final.
Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling following her heartbreaking disqualification.
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024
आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024
“Mother Wrestling has won the final bout and I have lost. Forgive me, your dreams, and my courage, everything is broken. I don’t have the strength anymore,” Phogat wrote in a post on X in Hindi.
“Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness,” the Olympian said.