Paris Olympics: Wait Continues For Vinesh Phogat as CAS Defers Decision On Joint Silver –

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has deferred its decision on wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal to award her a joint silver medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics till August 13.

The legal counsel for Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Vidushpat Singhania confirmed to CNN News18 that the verdict will be delivered on August 13th after the deadline was extended till August 11 for the filing of additional documents before the CAS.

“Our efforts have been much lesser compared to what Vinesh has achieved with her strong performance at the games,” Singhania told CNN News18.

However, he refused to comment on the legal strategy of IOA and Vinesh but is “very hopeful of a favourable verdict”.

In a statement later on, the IOA confirmed that the decision will be taken on August 13.

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Vinesh was left heartbroken on Wednesday after it was announced she’d been found 100gm over the weight limit on the day of her gold medal match in the women’s freestyle 50kg event. She was then disqualified from the entire event meaning the Indian was also stripped of the guaranteed silver medal as a result of reaching the final.

A distraught Vinesh went on to announce her retirement from wrestling.

The 29-year-old had stormed into the title clash after beating the then reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki in the pre-quarters, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinal and reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba in the semifinal.

Consequently, Guzman qualified for the final where she lost to Sarah Hildebrandt of USA.

CAS had earlier said a final decision would be announced by Saturday evening but it has now extended the deadline by 24 hours.

IOA is hoping for a positive resolution.

“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.

Vinesh was represented by high-profile senior advocates Harish Salve and Singhania.

Reacting to the situation, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach on Friday said he has a “certain understanding” for Vinesh but also wondered where one would draw the line after allowing small concessions in situations like hers.

“Looking at the federation or anybody to take such a decision, when and where do you make the cut? Do you say with 100gms, we give it but with 102(gms), we don’t give it anymore? What do you do then in sports where you have differences of one-thousandths of a second (in track events). Do you also then apply such deliberations?,” he said.

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