Vinesh Phogat appeals to CAS against disqualification, claims Olympic silver medal

Vinesh Phogat has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s 50kg wrestling finals for being 100 grams overweight. She is asking for an Olympic silver medal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an international body established in 1984 to resolve sports disputes through arbitration. Vinesh has requested an urgent hearing and asked that she be awarded two silver medals. The verdict is expected on Thursday.

Vinesh’s opponent in the final was American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, who was set to face Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the final after the Indian player was disqualified. Vinesh defeated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semifinals.

“Let’s see how things develop. The Indian delegation has done its job,” Indian squash star Saurav Ghoshal said on Jio Cinema.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set up a special department in Paris to resolve through arbitration any disputes that arise during the Olympics or in the 10 days before the opening ceremony.

Now, whether Vinesh gets the silver medal or not depends on the decision of the CAS. According to PTI, the rules for hearing such cases are very clear. The plaintiff must “exhaust all available internal remedies under the statutes or regulations of the relevant sports body” before filing such a request. The exception is that “the time required to exhaust internal remedies would render an appeal to the ad hoc division of the CAS ineffective.”

After Vinesh Phogat was disqualified in the 50kg final at the Paris Olympics, former Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt said it was a medal loss for India. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg event for exceeding the weight limit, dealing a heavy blow to India’s hopes of winning a medal in wrestling.

Speaking to ANI, Yogeshwar said that she was distressed to see herself disqualified from the 50 kg wrestling competition. He added that people should support Vinesh.

“It is a loss for India and Vinesh to lose a medal. The way she was disqualified is heartbreaking. It is time to support her as she represented India. Similar things have happened to international wrestlers as well. It is sad that politics has been dragged into it. All international wrestlers are aware of the UWW and Olympic rules,” Yogeshwar said.

Vinesh Phogat reached the gold medal match on Tuesday night after defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinals.

With ANI input