In Short
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has accepted Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her Olympic disqualification.
- Phogat is seeking a joint silver medal.
- The wrestler also announced her retirement in a poignant social media post.
On Thursday, the CAS agreed to hear Vinesh Phogat’s plea challenging her Olympic disqualification. The hearing is scheduled for 10 am local time in Paris today.
Phogat, who competed in the women’s 50kg freestyle category, was disqualified due to being 100 grams overweight at the final weigh-in.
In a moving social media post, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling. She has appealed to the CAS, an international body that resolves sports disputes through arbitration.
At 3 pm Paris time, CAS accepted Phogat’s plea and requested her to appoint legal representation for the hearing at 10 am local time (1:30 pm IST). The Indian government has sought the expertise of renowned lawyer Harish Salve for the case. The appointment of lawyers needs to be confirmed by 6 pm Paris time.
The Indian contingent requested extra time to finalize an Indian lawyer for the hearing. CAS granted them until 9:30 pm IST on Thursday. The Indian camp is working to secure Harish Salve, who has previously represented major cases including the BCCI.
Salve will represent the Indian Olympic Association virtually at the CAS hearing. He has been briefed on the case, and his name has been submitted as the counsel for the IOA.
Phogat had made two appeals to the CAS: one to participate in the final and another for a joint silver medal. Her initial appeal to compete in the final was rejected, while the appeal for a joint silver was considered.
Despite a stellar performance, including a victory over defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan, Phogat’s Olympic dreams were shattered. She defeated Susaki, who had an impressive 82-0 international record, and advanced to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, where she defeated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez. Guzman went on to win silver after Phogat’s disqualification.