The Indian sports fraternity is eagerly awaiting the outcome of wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the Paris Olympics as the Court of Arbitration for Sports is all set to announce its verdict on Tuesday after hearing arguments from all sides. Is. The decision may come by 9:30 pm. Vinesh, who reached the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle event with three wins including a win against Japan’s Yui Susaki last Tuesday, was eliminated from the title clash against eventual gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt of America because of the morning weigh-in. While doing so, his weight was found to be 100 grams more than the prescribed limit.
Shocked by this, the wrestler appealed against this decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport last Wednesday and demanded that she be given a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusnelis Guzman Lopez. Lopez had lost to Vinesh in the semi-finals but later got a place in the final after the Indian wrestler was disqualified. A day after her disqualification, Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport, saying she did not have the strength to continue. However, veteran players from across the world have supported the 29-year-old wrestler who was participating in her third Olympic Games.
Months before boarding the plane to Paris, Vinesh, along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, had been leading a protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of alleged sexual harassment and assault. Was accused of threatening. The list of sports personalities supporting Vinesh also includes Olympic champion Rei Higuchi of Japan, who was similarly disqualified in Tokyo three years ago but won the gold medal in Paris. Apart from this, veteran American freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs had demanded from the International Olympic Committee to give silver medal to Vinesh.
Great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also believes that Vinesh should have got at least a silver medal. Champion shooter Abhinav Bindra, two-time Olympic medalist superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and renowned hockey player PR Sreejesh also supported Vinesh and reminded the country of her contribution to the sport. On the eve of the verdict, 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist boxer Vijender Singh also extended his support to Vinesh. Vijender tweeted, “Sister Vinesh Phogat was with you earlier also, is there now and will be with you in future too.”
The Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, set up specifically to resolve disputes during the Games, had on Friday accepted Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification. Vinesh’s legal team comprises French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habin Estelle Kim and Charles Amson who helped her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during the filing of the application. His services have been provided by the Paris Bar and he is handling the case pro bono. Apart from this, senior lawyers Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have been added to assist them in the case. If the Sports Tribunal rules in favor of Vinesh, she will be given a combined silver medal.
