In the backdrop of the postponed decision regarding Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris 2024 Olympics, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Vice-President Jai Prakash Chaudhary expressed optimism that the outcome might just go in the wrestler’s favor.
The CAS has pushed back its verdict on Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the women’s 50kg final, initially set for August 13, to August 16. IOA confirmed the delay and said that the CAS ad hoc division president gave an extension till 6:00 p.m. Paris time on August 16.
Jai Prakash Chaudhary (WFI – VC)shared his thoughts with ANI, “I believe something good concerning Vinesh is going to come up. There appears to be loads of influence at work here, and I hope she shall be awarded the medal. The delay in awarding may have been unfortunate, but I feel her effort and loud voice that influential people like PM Modi himself raised will make it through.”.
She was withdrawn from the gold medal contest after her weigh-in, where she weighed 100 grams over the 50kg limit. She had reached the final after defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals before being expelled on the eve of the gold medal bout against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States. Later, Phogat announced retirement from wrestling.
The entire Indian Olympic Association has been under criticism ever since the incident. IOA President PT Usha went ahead and clarified that the onus of managing weight always rests with the athlete and his coaches, and not with the IOA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, and his team. Each athlete had his or her support team in place during the Paris Games, Usha said.
The CAS ad hoc division is handling the Olympic cases in Paris. The CAS ad hoc division President Michael Lenard comes from the U.S. The division operates from the judicial court in Paris in the 17th arrondissement.
ANI
