Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic Silver Medal Appeal Dismissed
New Delhi, India – August 15: Former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s application for an Olympic silver medal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Vinesh expressed her distress on Instagram, posting a picture of herself lying on a mat with her hands covering her eyes.
CAS Decision
On Wednesday, CAS confirmed that Vinesh’s application, filed on August 7, was dismissed. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is exploring further legal options following this decision.
IOA’s Response
IOA President PT Usha expressed shock and disappointment at the decision. The IOA stated it is committed to ensuring Vinesh’s case is heard and will continue to advocate for justice and fairness in sports.
Impact of the Decision
The IOA highlighted that the disqualification due to a marginal weight discrepancy of 100 grams raises questions about ambiguous rules and their interpretation. The IOA believes the regulations are stringent and inhumane, particularly for female athletes.
Vinesh’s Disqualification
Vinesh was set to compete against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal on August 7 but was disqualified for exceeding the 50kg weight limit by 100 grams. Following her disqualification, Vinesh appealed for the silver medal but was unsuccessful.
Vinesh’s Retirement
On August 8, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling in an emotional post, stating, “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”
Gold Medal Outcome
Sarah Ann Hildebrandt secured the gold medal in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling after defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.
Doubts Revealed
Vinesh Phogat -: Vinesh Phogat is a famous Indian wrestler who has won many medals in wrestling competitions.
Olympic Silver Medal -: An Olympic Silver Medal is a prize given to the second-place winner in the Olympic Games, which is a big sports event held every four years.
Appeal Dismissed -: When an appeal is dismissed, it means that a request to change a decision was not accepted.
IOA -: IOA stands for Indian Olympic Association, which is the organization that manages India’s participation in the Olympic Games.
Legal Options -: Legal options are different ways to use the law to try to change a decision or solve a problem.
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) -: CAS is a special court that helps solve disputes related to sports, like disagreements about rules or decisions.
Instagram -: Instagram is a social media app where people can share photos and videos with their friends and followers.
Retirement -: Retirement means stopping work or a career, usually after a long time of doing it.
PT Usha -: PT Usha is a famous Indian athlete and the President of the Indian Olympic Association.
Disqualified -: Disqualified means being removed from a competition because of breaking a rule.
50kg weight limit -: In wrestling, there are weight categories, and 50kg is one of them. It means the wrestler should not weigh more than 50 kilograms.
Sarah Ann Hildebrandt -: Sarah Ann Hildebrandt is a wrestler from another country who won the gold medal in the same competition.