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New Delhi: India’s wrestling icon, Vinesh Phogat, has seen her dreams of clinching a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics come to a heartbreaking end. After being disqualified from the final of the women’s 50 kg weight category, Phogat’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for a joint silver medal was dismissed on August 14th. This ruling by CAS not only upheld the decisions made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) but also marked a tragic conclusion to Phogat’s illustrious wrestling career.
The CAS ad-hoc division, established in Paris specifically for the Olympic Games, took up Phogat’s case on August 9th. The hearing, which began at 5:30 PM IST and lasted for three hours, saw prominent legal minds representing Phogat and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Dr. Annabel Bennett, CAS’s sole arbitrator, presided over the case, which was presented by a French legal team and senior Indian advocates Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania. Despite the high-profile defense, CAS delivered a one-line verdict, dismissing the appeal and leaving Phogat’s hopes in tatters.
The controversy began on August 7th, when Phogat was disqualified before the final of the women’s 50 kg weight category after being found 100 grams over the prescribed weight limit during the morning weigh-in. Under UWW rules, any wrestler who exceeds the weight limit is disqualified from the entire tournament, losing any chance of securing a medal. As a result, Phogat, who had already secured a spot in the final, was stripped of her potential silver medal and placed last in the competition.
Phogat’s initial appeal to CAS sought to halt the final and grant her a second chance, but this was swiftly denied. The appeal was then modified to request a joint silver medal, which was ultimately rejected as well.
The disqualification and subsequent appeal have left a wave of disappointment across India, with emotions running high. The issue even reached the Parliament, where opposition members called for government intervention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, sought detailed information about the case and attempted to provide support, but to no avail.
Phogat’s decision to compete in the 50 kg category, rather than her usual 53 kg, added an extra layer of difficulty to her Olympic campaign. Despite this, she delivered a stunning performance on August 6th, defeating World No. 1 Yui Susaki of Japan in a thrilling 3-2 match—the first defeat in Susaki’s 83-match international career. Phogat’s journey to the final was historic, as she became the first Indian female wrestler to achieve this feat.
However, her disqualification paved the way for Guzman Lopez, whom Phogat had defeated in the semifinals, to take her place in the final. Lopez ultimately fell short, with Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States claiming the gold medal.
As the nation comes to terms with Phogat’s disqualification and the end of her wrestling career, the focus now shifts to the detailed ruling by CAS, which is expected to be released in the coming days.
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