Vinesh Phogat CAS verdict: Why justice delayed may not be the case of justice denied for the Indian grappler

The CAS verdict on Vinesh Phogat's appeal is deferred till August 16. (PTI Photo)

Vinesh Phogat's wait has been extended further. The Indian wrestling star had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after being disqualified from the women's 50kg wrestling final at the Paris 2024 Olympics for being 100 grams overweight. Phogat's appeal to CAS argued that she was within the permissible weight limit when she qualified for the final, and therefore, she should be eligible for a shared silver medal. However, the verdict date for her case has been postponed several times, now to August 16.

On Wednesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) once again deferred the verdict date concerning Vinesh Phogat's Olympic silver medal. Initially, it was anticipated that the decision would be reached before the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympics, but it has now been deferred for the second time.

The initial potential verdict date was August 10, which was then moved to August 13. The new date for the verdict is now August 16.

Vinesh Phogat's legal team includes French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habbine Estelle Kim, and Charles Amson, who have assisted her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in filing the application. They have been provided pro bono by the Paris Bar and are handling the case without charge.

Additionally, senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have been enlisted to support her in the case.

Before the verdict date of August 13, Singhania explained why the extended deliberation by CAS could be a positive sign.

"We all believe. Yes, the ad-hoc panel of the CAS has a time limit of 24 hours. The fact that they have extended the verdict deadline more than once means they are considering this matter seriously. If the Arbitrator is taking her time, it's a good sign for us," Vidushpat Singhania told India Today.

He was candid about the difficulties of achieving a positive outcome at CAS.

"I have handled many cases at CAS in the past. The success rate at CAS is quite low. In this case, we are seeking a landmark decision from the arbitrator. It’s challenging, but let’s hope for a significant outcome," he added.

"Let us all pray for Vinesh. Let’s hope she secures a medal. Even if she doesn't, she is a champion," Singhania concluded.