Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s expectation of receiving a ‘positive’ outcome from her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over her disqualification at the Paris Olympics has been lengthened yet again with CAS pushing back its decision for the third time and now expected to come in on 16 August.
The CAS is now expected to give its ruling on August 16, after it was deferred twice before this.
On the same day when she lost on weight by just 100 grams during second weigh-in before final bout against Sarah Hildebrandt, Vinesh filed an appeal on August 7. It was a big blow for this athlete who had made history just yesterday becoming first female Indian wrestler to reach Olympic finals on her third appearance at the Games.
Lst week was marked by a series of conflicting events that kept Vinesh and Indian sports enthusiasts in suspense:
Timeline of Events:
August 6: In women’s wrestling, Vinesh Phogat defeated Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman making it to the final of women’s freestyle wrestling event in the category upto 50Kg.
August 7: However, she was slightly overweighed as compared to what is required for her category-50kgs. Even though she tried to cut off some clothes and hair, they still weighed more than hundred grams above mark which caused another disqualification after official weigh-ins. This leads to disqualification according to competition regulations;
On Friday, after such incident capsized her chance at gold; Wrestling Federation of India could not let it go, thus lodging UWW an immediated appeal regarding it;
Furthermore, Vinesh put in an application with CAS whereby she accused Cuba’s Guzman who took part into finals instead of her after being disqualified herself with silver medal that should be shared between them. The race went ahead without any hitches only that Sarah Hildebrandt won the gold for USA and Guzman took the silver.
August 8: This surprising move from Vinesh Phogat marks the end of a career in wrestling that should have been much brighter than it was in Paris.
The IOC update on the matter noted that Vinesh’s appeal hearing in Paris concluded yesterday at CAS ad hoc division. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is optimistic of a positive resolution.
August 10: The suspense surrounding her appeal was further prolonged as CAS postponed delivery of its verdict to August 13, giving it an extension time frame.
August 13: According to Wrestling Federation of India, CAS has once more deferred its decision on Vinesh’s second appeal with the final outcome now due on August 16.
Vinesh Phogat’s journey through this week has been one of extremes; from being so close to winning an Olympic title, she found herself retiring from wrestling all together. The conclusion of her appeal is still uncertain and fans are waiting for them to see whether CAS will grant her wish for a joint silver medal with Cuba’s Guzman.
