Vinesh Phogat CASE Verdict: Despite a strong performance in the Paris Olympics 2024 and making it to the finals by winning 3 matches in a single day, Vinesh Phogat has to fight a long battle for the medal. At one time, Vinesh was assured of her silver medal, but due to being 100 grams overweight, she could not participate in the gold medal match and was disqualified.
Vinesh had participated in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling event in the Paris Olympics. After being disqualified just before the final, Vinesh filed a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). His first demand was that he should be allowed to play the gold medal match.
But citing rules, his demand was immediately rejected. After this Vinesh appealed and said that she should be given a silver medal in this event. After the hearing in this case, the decision was to come on Tuesday night (13 August), but it was postponed again.
Now CAS will give its decision in Vinesh’s case at 9.30 pm on 16th August. Vinesh played her first match on 6 August. For them, these 8 days (till 13th August) have passed like happiness and sometimes sorrow. Let us know what happened in these 8 days…
6 August 2024
Vinesh Phogat played three matches in the 50 kg weight category on Tuesday i.e. 6th August. She defeated Tokyo Olympic champion Yui Susaki 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. Then Vinesh made it to the finals by defeating Ukraine’s female wrestler Oksana Livach 7-5 in the quarter-finals and Cuban wrestler Eusneilis Guzman 5-0 in the semi-finals. The final was to be held on 7th August.
7 August 2024
Indian fans were hopeful that Vinesh Phogat would create history by winning the final match, because India has not been able to win any Olympic gold in wrestling till now. But the news that came at around 12 o’clock on Wednesday, August 7, surprised the fans. Vinesh was disqualified from Paris Olympics. In fact, when Vinesh’s weight was measured before the final on Wednesday morning, her weight was found to be 100 grams more than that required for playing in the 50 kg category.
According to reports, after the semi-finals, Vinesh’s weight had increased to 52.70 kg. After this, her medical team tried to reduce Vinesh’s weight throughout the night. Vinesh did skipping and cycling the whole night. Even nails and hair were cut. Vinesh lost weight, but despite all efforts, her weight remained stuck at 50.10 kg.
After this, first the news of Vinesh’s disqualification and then her fainting came to light. Vinesh was admitted to the polyclinic of Olympic Village due to dehydration. However, Vinesh was discharged after a few hours.
After this, the application was given by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 at 8:15 pm Indian time. Vinesh appealed to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sports) and said that she should be given a silver medal in this event. CAS was established to resolve any disputes arising during the 10-day period before the Olympic Games or the Opening Ceremony.
8 August 2024
On August 8, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement. He gave this information while posting it on social media. Vinesh Phogat said that mother wrestling won from me. I am defeated, sorry, your dream, my courage are all broken. I don’t have any more strength than this now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. She apologized and said that she will always be indebted to you all.
9 August 2024
On August 9, the Adhoc Division of CAS registered the application in the case of Vinesh Phogat. Australian judge was appointed to mediate Vinesh’s case. In this matter, a press release was issued by CAS and a big update related to it was given. Vinesh’s case was registered as CAS OG 24/17 Vinesh Phogat vs United World Wrestling (UWW) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In Vinesh’s case, 4 CAS lawyers represented her, among them Joel Monluis, Estelle Ivanova, Habin Estelle Kim and Charles Amson were the lawyers representing Vinesh Phogat in the CAS hearing. Later, former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve also appeared online on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the CAS in the Vinesh Phogat disqualification case.
Then CAS completed the hearing of the entire case on 9 August. However, the Adhoc Division of CAS extended the deadline for giving the decision till 9.30 pm Indian time on August 10. This means that the wait for the decision on whether Vinesh will get the medal or not has increased a bit.
10 August 2024
On August 10, another update came regarding Vinesh getting the medal. Where will Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat get silver or not? The date for giving the verdict in this regard was again extended and it was postponed to August 13. Australian judge Dr. Annabelle Bennett was appointed to mediate this case. Usually, the ad-hoc panel is given 24 hours to give its decision, but its decision was extended much longer.
12 August
Just a day before the CAS decision, Vinesh Phogat left the Olympic Village in Paris. She took her bags and went to the hotel. During this time, many photos and videos of Vinesh also surfaced. Vinesh also had full hope of getting justice. His plan was to return to India after the verdict.
13 August
At last that day has come, which Vinesh and her family, friends and Indian fans were looking forward to. The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) was to give its verdict in Vinesh’s case at 9.30 pm, but once again the wait increased for Vinesh and her family. That means the same sometimes happy and sometimes sad thing happened with them again. The court has now postponed the decision to August 16. CAS will now give this decision on 16th August at 9.30 pm. It remains to be seen whether Vinesh gets a medal or disappointment.