• Source:JND
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The entire nation eagerly anticipates the Court of Arbitration's (CAS) verdict on Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal for the joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Phogat made history by advancing to the Olympic finals last week, only to be disqualified hours later for being slightly overweight. The 29-year-old wrestler was debarred from the women's 50kg freestyle final in the Paris Olympics for being 100gm above the prescribed limit in the morning weigh-in, after which she appealed in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal.

Now as per a report in Indian Express, Vinesh has cited the gruelling schedule and logistical challenges as the reasons for her inability to meet the weight requirement, according to reports submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Specifically, she pointed to the tight timeframe between her bout and the significant distance between the Athletes' Village and the competition venue, which hindered her ability to make the necessary weight cut.

The report further stated that Vinesh's legal counsel further contended that the additional 100g she carried on the second morning did not provide her with any competitive edge or unfair advantage, emphasizing that the slight weight excess did not impact the outcome of her competition.

"There would be a manifest disproportion between the level of excess (which excludes any attempt at fraud or manipulation of the athlete) and the irreversible consequences that would result from her non-participation in the finals in addition to the deprivation of her silver medal that was acquired by hard work," the report stated.

Indian Olympic Association Hopeful

"Indian Olympic Association remained hopeful of a positive resolution of wrestler Vinesh Phogat's application before the Ad hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against her failed weigh-in," the IOA said in a statement.

Awaiting The Final Decision

The ad-hoc division of the CAS will take some more time to deliberate on Vinesh's appeal and will announce its decision only on August 13.