Vinesh Phogat’s Retirement and CAS Verdict: A Champion’s Journey
Vinesh Phogat, a famous Indian wrestler, has announced her retirement after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics final for slightly exceeding the weight limit. Despite this setback, her lawyer, Vidushpat Singhania, emphasized that she remains a champion regardless of the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) verdict.
Phogat’s Olympic Journey
Phogat reached the gold medal match by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals. She was set to face Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold but was disqualified for the weight limit breach. Earlier, she achieved a significant victory by beating Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the round of 16.
CAS Verdict
Following her disqualification, Phogat requested CAS to award her the silver medal. The verdict is expected by 9:30 PM IST. Vidushpat Singhania stated, “The hearing took place on August 9 and the verdict is expected by 9.30 pm tonight. Vinesh was represented by 4 lawyers. She is the applicant and United World Wrestling (UWW) and International Olympic Committee are the respondents and Indian Olympic Association is an interested party. We hope the decision will come in Vinesh’s favour. She is a champion no matter what CAS’s verdict is and should be respected like one.”
Phogat’s Emotional Farewell
In an emotional post on X, Phogat expressed her gratitude and announced her retirement, saying, “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. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness.”
Phogat’s Achievements
Throughout her career, Vinesh Phogat secured two World Championships bronze medals (2019 and 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014), and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022). She also won gold in the Asian Championships (2021) and has earned silver and bronze at the continental level.
IOA’s Clarification
IOA President Dr PT Usha clarified that the responsibility of weight management in sports like wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and judo lies with each athlete and their coach, not the IOA-appointed Chief Medical Officer Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala and his team. Dr Usha condemned the hate directed at the IOA medical team and urged people to consider all facts before judging.
Doubts Revealed
Vinesh Phogat -: Vinesh Phogat is a famous Indian wrestler who has won many medals in wrestling competitions.
CAS -: CAS stands for the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It is a special court that helps solve sports-related disputes.
Paris Olympics -: The Paris Olympics is a big sports event that will be held in Paris, France, where athletes from all over the world compete in various sports.
Tokyo 2020 -: Tokyo 2020 refers to the Olympic Games that were held in Tokyo, Japan, in the year 2021 due to a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yui Susaki -: Yui Susaki is a wrestler from Japan who won a gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
IOA -: IOA stands for the Indian Olympic Association, which is responsible for organizing India’s participation in the Olympic Games.
Dr PT Usha -: Dr PT Usha is a famous Indian athlete and the President of the Indian Olympic Association. She is known for her achievements in track and field.
weight limit -: In wrestling, athletes must stay within a certain weight range to compete in their category. If they exceed this limit, they can be disqualified.