All hopes dashed: CAS dismisses Vinesh Phogat's appeal for joint silver after Paris Olympics disqualification

Indian grappler Vinesh Phogat (PTI)

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed the petition filed by Vinesh Phogat against her disqualification at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. CAS issued a statement earlier in the evening, which read: “The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 is dismissed." The wrestler was disqualified hours before her final bout against USA's Sarah Hildebrandt, who eventually went to secure the gold medal in women's 50kg freestyle wrestling in Paris.

Vinesh was assured of at least a silver, also making her the first Indian female grappler to reach the final at the Olympics. However, as they say nothing can be predicted in sports, Vinesh was disqualified after failing to meet the weight cut by 100gm on the morning of her gold medal bout. CAS issued a statement on the matter on Friday last week and clarified that while it didn't allow the wrestler for a second weigh-in after failing to meet the weight cut, or reinstated her in the gold medal bout, it did agree to hear her plea for a joint silver.

Vinesh had requested a joint silver on the grounds that she passed the initial weigh-in and had reached the final fair and square, which included a victory over reigning champion Japan's Yui Susaki in the opening bout. Vinesh had measured two kilograms more on Tuesday night, which was after her first three bouts, and despite undergoing a rigorous routine she failed to shed the extra kilos.

Although Vinesh did make an appeal at the CAS but the chances of it being ruled in the Indian's favour were slim. Following her disqualification from Paris, Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport on Thursday. “Wrestling won against me, I lost...my courage is all broken, I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024,” she wrote on 'X'.

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Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman, whom Vinesh defeated 5-0 in the semifinal, replaced the Indian in the gold medal bout. The Cuban settled for silver after enduring a 0-3 loss against Hildebrandt.

The CAS has two temporary offices in Paris for the Olympics, out of which one is the CAS Ad Hoc Division. This type of setup has been in practice since the 1996 Summer and Winter Games. It is also there in other major sporting events.

A decision on the same was expected before the close of Paris Games, but the CAS extended the proceedings and informed a verdict will be out by August 13. However, on the same day, CAS once again extended the deadline and informed that a decision can be expected before August 16.