After her application for an Olympic silver medal was dismissed, former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat posted a cryptic message on social media. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed on Wednesday that Vinesh’s plea, following her disqualification from the women’s 50 kg final in Paris, was rejected. Vinesh shared a photo on Instagram, lying on a mat with her hands covering her eyes, expressing apparent distress.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed shock and disappointment at the verdict and is exploring further legal options. IOA President PT Usha criticized the decision, highlighting the impact of a 100-gram weight discrepancy that led to Vinesh’s disqualification. The IOA’s statement emphasized the need for a deeper examination of the rules and their impact on athletes, particularly in light of the physiological and psychological stress they endure.
Vinesh was set to compete for gold against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States but was disqualified before the final after exceeding the 50kg weight limit by 100 grams. Following her disqualification, Vinesh appealed for the silver medal and later announced her retirement from wrestling in an emotional post, stating, “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”
Sarah Ann Hildebrandt went on to win the gold medal in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling category, defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.
