Credits: X
Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar demanded for justice and silver medal to wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified on the day of her gold-medal match at Paris Olympics 2024. Notably, Phogat had secured her spot in the final of the 50kg freestyle after defeating her Cuban counterpart in the semi-final. However, in a heartbreaking turn of events, the Indian wrestler was declared disqualified after she was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit.
Phogat had scripted history by becoming the first Indian to reach the final of Olympics in women’s wrestling. However, after what happened to her, a disappointing Phogat announced her retirement and filed a plea to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) and appealed that silver should be given to her. The plea was accepted on August 8, and the decision is awaited.
Sachin Tendulkar demands justice and silver medal to deserving Phogat
Since her disqualification, several celebrities and eminent names have come in support of the Haryana native. Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has also voiced his opinion and said that the Indian was robbed of her well-deserved silver. Taking to X, Tendulkar wrote, "Every sport has rules and those rules need to be seen in context, maybe even revisited at times. Vinesh Phogat qualified fair and square for the finals. Her disqualification by weight, was before the finals, and hence, for her to be robbed of a deserving silver medal defies logic and sporting sense."
He added, “It would have been understandable if an athlete were to have been disqualified for ethical breaches such as the usage of performance enhancing drugs. In that case, to not be awarded any medal and be placed last would be justifiable. However, Vinesh beat her opponents fairly to reach the top two. She definitely deserves a silver medal. While we all wait for a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, let us hope and pray that Vinesh gets the recognition she deserves."
