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Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic dream must have come to a drastic halt, following which she was forced to announce retirement from the sport. However, her medal hopes are still alive with Phogat appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), decision of which is set to come out soon.
However, the CAS accepted Phogat’s one of the two appeals, on Friday, August 9, the CAS issued their first statement in the matter. While CAS clarified that it could not comply with Vinesh’s request for a second weigh-in or reinstate the gold medal, they did hear her case, which was scheduled for August 9. “An application was filed at the CAS Ad hoc Division at 16:45 CEST on 7 August 2024 by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (the Applicant) in relation to the decision taken by United World Wrestling (UWW) to replace her, because of her failed second weigh-in, before the gold medal match of the Women’s Freestyle 50kg competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that was due to commence at 18:15 CEST the same day (the Challenged Decision),” the statement from the CAS read.
"The Applicant initially sought a decision from the CAS Ad hoc Division annulling the Challenged Decision and ordering another weigh-in before the final match as well as a declaration that she be declared eligible and qualified to participate in the final,” the statement further added.
Although the decision wasn’t made, but the Court of Arbitration (CAS) confirmed that the decision will be made before the Games culminate in Paris as it has been referred to the Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC of Australia. “However, she did not request urgent interim measures. The CAS Ad hoc Division procedure is fast, but it was not possible for a decision on the merits to be issued within an hour, bearing in mind that the Respondent UWW would have had to be heard first. The procedure is, however, ongoing and the Applicant has confirmed that she seeks the annulment of the Challenged Decision and that she requests to be awarded a (shared) silver medal.”
“The matter has been referred to the Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC (AUS), sitting as a Sole Arbitrator, who will hold a hearing with the parties today. The Sole Arbitrator’s decision is expected to be issued before the end of the Olympic Games,” the statement concluded.
It is to be noted that the three-time Olympian wrestler is being represented by renowned senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania.
