The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Vinesh Phogat’s petition seeking a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics. The judgment, issued in a single line, comes just a day after CAS had delayed its decision until August 16, creating a brief glimmer of hope for the Indian wrestler.
Phogat announced her retirement hours after she was disqualified from competing in the 50kg weight class for being 100 grams over the permissible limit finals of the Paris Olympics.
The wrestlers’ legal team and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had argued that Phogat should be awarded a joint silver medal, contending that she had been within the weight limit on the competition’s first day. Their appeal was rooted in the belief that Phogat’s performance merited recognition alongside Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Phogat in the semi-finals but ultimately secured the silver medal after competing for it against gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA. Phogat’s hope for a shared silver medal was grounded in the notion that her disqualification due to the weight issue should not overshadow her achievements up until the final. Despite this, the CAS ruling has closed the door on her petition, leaving Phogat without the consolation of an additional accolade.
The Indian Olympic Association has expressed profound disappointment with the outcome, underscoring the emotional and competitive significance of the case for Phogat and Indian wrestling. The decision marks a somber end to a tumultuous chapter in Phogat’s Olympic journey, highlighting the often unforgiving nature of sports regulations.
