Earlier on Tuesday, the CAS deferred its decision for the third time, pushing it to August 16, but surprisingly made it public a day later.
Vinesh submitted her appeal to the CAS on August 7, coinciding with the day she was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit by a mere 100 grams during her second weigh-in, before her gold medal match against Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States.
The disqualification came as a crushing setback for Vinesh, who had created history just a day prior by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to advance to an Olympic final in her third appearance at the Games.
Over the past week, Vinesh and Indian sports enthusiasts have experienced a roller coaster of emotions due to a sequence of remarkable occurrences. The events that unfolded during this time have left a significant impact on both the athlete and her supporters.
As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how these events will shape the future of Vinesh’s career and the landscape of Indian sports as a whole. One thing is certain: the past week will be remembered as a defining moment that tested the resilience and determination of both the athlete and her devoted fans.
Timeline of Events:
August 6: Vinesh Phogat secured a historic victory over Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman, earning her place in the final of the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling event.
August 7:
* Vinesh’s weight was found to be marginally above the 50kg limit. Despite efforts to trim her hair and clothing to meet the requirements, she was still 100 grams over the limit during the second official weigh-in. As per competition rules, she was disqualified.
* The Wrestling Federation of India immediately filed an appeal with United World Wrestling (UWW), the governing body overseeing the event in Paris.
* Vinesh also appealed to the CAS, demanding a joint silver medal with Cuba’s Guzman, who was promoted to the final after Vinesh’s disqualification. The final went ahead, with Sarah Hildebrandt winning gold for the USA and Guzman claiming silver.
August 8: In a surprising turn, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling, marking the end of an illustrious career overshadowed by the events in Paris.
August 9: The hearing into Vinesh’s appeal concluded at the ad-hoc division of the CAS in Paris. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed optimism for a “positive resolution.”
August 10: CAS extended the deadline for delivering its verdict on Vinesh’s appeal, pushing it to August 13, further prolonging the suspense.
August 13: The IOA announced that the CAS had again postponed its decision on Vinesh’s appeal, with the final ruling now expected on August 16.
August 14: Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from Paris Olympics final has been rejected by the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The sport’s top court came out with the verdict a day later after postponing the decision to August 16.