The Paris Olympics has ended. Players have started returning home. But, India is still waiting for a result and 140 crore countrymen also have big expectations. The decision in the case of wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been postponed again on Tuesday and a new date (16 August) has been given. Vinesh was disqualified before the final match due to being 100 grams overweight. He had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Vinesh first appealed to be reinstated for the gold medal match. When this demand was rejected, he filed a petition to modify it and give him a silver medal. The court was to give its verdict on August 8. But the matter was postponed. Meanwhile, Vinesh announced her retirement. After that, the decision in this matter was to come on August 13 and once again this matter was postponed. The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) said that the decision will be announced on August 16.
What did Vinesh say in the announcement of retirement?
Vinesh Phogat posted on social media on the morning of August 8 and addressed her mother and wrote, Mother, wrestling won from me. I lost. Excuse me. Your dream, my courage are all broken. I don’t have any more strength than this now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all. Forgiveness.
Why was Vinesh disqualified?
Actually, Vinesh was playing in the 50 kg category. According to the rules, he got his weight weighed on the morning of 7 August before the final match and it turned out to be 100 grams more. Due to Olympic rules, Vinesh was disqualified from playing the final. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took cognizance of the matter and spoke to Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha and asked her to lodge a strong protest with the Olympic Committee.
Vinesh had defeated three giants in one day
Vinesh had defeated three veteran wrestlers in the 50 kg category on August 6 and entered the finals. She became the first female wrestler in the country to do so. Vinesh’s silver medal was considered certain. Vinesh first defeated Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. Susaki was an unbeaten player for 82 matches. That means she did not lose any match during this period. Vinesh had defeated Oksana Livach of Ukraine 7-5 in the quarter-finals. After that played the semi-finals and defeated Cuba’s Gulzan Lopez 5-0. Earlier, Vinesh was banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Mahavir Phogat said- Our expectations are increasing
Vinesh’s uncle Mahavir Phogat said that we have been waiting for the last five-six days. But we are getting date after date. Earlier the decision was to come on 8th. We hope that she will win the silver medal. We will welcome Vinesh like a gold medal winner. We will try our best to convince him to take back his decision (to retire) and start preparing for the 2028 Olympics.
Mahavir said that 140 crore Indians are waiting for the decision. We are ready to welcome the decision of CAS. We hope that CAS will give a decision in our favor. We hope CAS will not delay any longer and it will be positive for us. This extension is increasing our expectations.
Indian Olympic Association’s advocate Vidushpat Singhania has expressed hope that the decision will be in our favor. CAS said that they have taken an extension till August 16, 6.30 pm (Paris time). We do not know the reason behind this. However, CAS gives its decision within 24 hours of filing a complaint by a committee. We still have hopes.
Vinesh had to enter the wrestling arena against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of America for the gold medal in the final.
What did WFI say…
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Vice President Jai Prakash has expressed disappointment over the delay in the decision. Speaking to India Today, he said the entire federation is “deeply saddened” by the delay. Especially when they see this as an era of injustice. He also expressed hope that the final decision on August 16 will be fair and just for Phogat and the Indian wrestling community. Jai Prakash said that we all were holding our breath and waiting for the decision. We were hoping that we would get some good news. I don’t know what is hindering the decision coming. We are deeply saddened and believe that the result should have come earlier. Now all of us are just hoping that whenever the decision comes, it should be good.