Hope for silver persists for Vinesh Phogat as CAS accepts her plea for joint medal

The plea for a joint medal has emerged as a beacon of hope for Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg freestyle event at the Paris Olympics 2024. The disqualification occurred just hours before her gold medal match against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the USA. Phogat was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit, which led to her exclusion from the medal contention despite her strong performance throughout the tournament.

Phogat, who usually competes in the 53 kg category, was moved to the 50 kg weight class by her coaches and the wrestling federation. Despite a rigorous preparation routine that included winning all three of her preliminary bouts, she faced disqualification after gaining weight from consuming electrolytes and staying hydrated. The rules of United World Wrestling (UWW) require wrestlers to be within the permissible weight limit during the morning weigh-in on each match day, a standard Phogat failed to meet by a mere 100 grams.

Following Vinesh’s disqualification, Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, whom Phogat had defeated in the semi-finals, advanced to the final but was defeated by Hildebrandt 3-0. Consequently, Guzman Lopez secured the silver medal, leaving Phogat without any recognition for her efforts. The situation has led to widespread disappointment and calls for re-evaluation of weight management regulations in wrestling.

Plea for a Joint Medal: Legal Battle and New Hope

In response to the disqualification, Vinesh Phogat, supported by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), has turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with a plea for a joint silver medal. This plea follows an initial appeal that was rejected, which sought to allow Phogat to compete in the gold medal match. The second appeal, focusing on securing a joint silver medal, has been accepted by CAS, which will hear the case on Friday, August 9. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 pm IST, with an interim ruling expected about an hour later.

The IOA has enlisted prominent lawyer Harish Salve to represent Phogat in the CAS hearing. Salve, known for his work with high-profile clients including Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group and Tata groups, is expected to argue that the 100-gram excess weight was negligible and did not provide any competitive advantage. Salve confirmed to ANI that he is in discussions with the IOA regarding the case.

In its initial legal argument, the IOA has contended that the 100-gram weight excess was a result of “bloating” and did not offer any real advantage. According to the IOA, this minor excess could be attributed to natural bodily processes such as water retention due to summer heat or muscle mass increase from competing in multiple bouts. The IOA’s statement emphasized that Phogat’s weight gain was part of a necessary recovery process and did not contravene the principles of fair competition.

“The excess of 100g is extremely negligible (representing around 0.1 to 0.2% of the athlete’s weight) and can easily be caused by the bloating of a human body during summer weather, as the heat makes the human body retain more water, scientifically for survival purposes,” the statement read. “It can also be due to muscle mass increase as the athlete competed three times on the same day. It can also be caused by the food consumption of the athlete after the competitions to sustain her health and integrity for the demanding competitions.”

The statement further argued that Phogat’s weight gain was not indicative of an attempt to gain an unfair advantage but rather part of the essential recovery process. The IOA’s plea to CAS underscores the importance of upholding athletes’ fundamental rights, including the respect for their physical integrity.

As Vinesh Phogat awaits the CAS ruling, the plea for a joint medal has rekindled hope for recognition of her remarkable efforts and dedication. The outcome of the CAS hearing could set a precedent for how weight-related disqualifications are handled in the future, emphasizing fairness and the welfare of athletes in competitive sports.

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