New Delhi. The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is to give its decision today on wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal for being awarded the silver medal in the 50 kg wrestling event of Paris Olympics 2024. Judge of the Court of Arbitration for Sports Dr. Annabel Bennett will give the verdict on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal. Vinesh Phogat participated in the Paris Olympics and reached the final of the 50 kg wrestling event, but was disqualified due to being overweight. After this, Vinesh Phogat appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports to be awarded the silver medal in this event. Famous lawyer Harish Salve represented Vinesh Phogat in the Court of Sports. Meanwhile, there is also news that the largest body that decides on the rules of wrestling, i.e. UWW, is considering changing its rule, due to which Vinesh Phogat was disqualified due to being overweight.
Vinesh Phogat has said in her appeal that she had won the semi-finals of the wrestling event. At that time, her weight was also within the limit of 50 kg. In such a situation, Vinesh Phogat says that she should get the silver medal of Paris Olympics. Whereas, the rule of the International Wrestling Federation is that if a wrestler is found overweight in the respective weight category during the competition, then he is disqualified and given the last place in the list of participants. However, before disqualification, the concerned player is given a chance to reduce his weight. Vinesh Phogat, her coach and other support staff also tried their best to reduce weight, but still Vinesh’s weight turned out to be 100 grams more than 50 kg and she was disqualified under the rules.
It was only after the semi-finals that the Indian wrestling team found that Vinesh Phogat weighed more than 2 kg more than 50 kg. In such a situation, she was made to run all night and skip. Vinesh Phogat did not even drink water to lose weight. In an attempt to reduce Vinesh’s weight, her hair and clothes were also cut and shortened, but it did not help. After Vinesh Phogat was disqualified, PM Narendra Modi spoke to Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha and asked her to take all possible steps. After which Vinesh Phogat was made to appeal to the Sports Arbitration. If the decision comes in Vinesh’s favor, India will get another silver medal. India has won 7 medals including one silver in the Paris Olympics. This time no player from India could win the gold medal. In such a situation, India ranked 71st in the Paris Olympics.
