Vinesh Phogat’s Plea For Silver To Be Heard Today

In what could be a ray of hope for Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, her plea for silver medal at Paris Olympics 2024 will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.

United World Wrestling, the sport's governing body, disqualified Phogat on Wednesday morning because she was 100 grams over the weight limit.

Guzman Lopez replaced Phogat in the final, and American Sarah Hildebrandt defeated Guzman Lopez 3-0 to win the gold medal.

Phogat later announced retirement saying, “My courage is broken, I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling, 2001-2024.”

Phogat beat four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan on Tuesday. She then won her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5 and her semifinal against Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 to earn a spot in Wednesday night's championship match.

The CAS accepted Vinesh's plea and asked her to appoint lawyers for the hearing on Friday at 10 am IST. Meanwhile, the Indian Government has asked to get renowned lawyer Harish Salve on board for the case. The lawyer/lawyers will need to be appointed by 6 pm (Paris time), which needs to be conveyed to the CAS.

The Indian camp began the process to get Harish Salve, who has previously appeared for the BCCI among other big cases, on board.

Phogat had made two appeals to the CAS. The first one, in which she requested to be allowed to take part in Thursday's final, while her first appeal was rejected before the final, her second appeal - the demand for a joint-silver medal - was considered.

Meanwhile, Opposition I.N.D.I.A Bloc members on Thursday demanded a discussion in parliament and staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha when their demand was rejected.

Soon after the day's business started in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat and questioned “who is behind it”. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairman of Rajya Sabha, did not allow a discussion.

Shortly after, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien also stood up to raise some issues but was not allowed by the Chair.

Dhankhar cautioned the Trinamool leader and said, "You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door.”

As the uproar escalated, Opposition leaders staged a walkout. Dhankhar remarked that the Opposition believed they were the “only ones whose hearts are bleeding” after Phogat's shocking exit from the Olympics.

"The entire nation is in pain... But to politicise it is the greatest disrespect to her (Ms Phogat)," Dhankhar added.

Earlier Wednesday, I.N.D.I.A bloc members had also walked out from the Lok Sabha after expressing their dissatisfaction with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's statement on the matter where he detailed the financial assistance given to the grappler for her Olympics preps.

Speaking in Lok Sabha, Mansukh Mandaviya had said the government had provided all possible assistance to Phogat according to her requirements, which included personal staff. He said a total financial assistance of ₹ 70,45,775 was given for the Paris Olympic cycle.

“Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics due to being overweight by 100 gm. Vinesh was playing in the 50 kg category and her weight had to be 50 kg for the competition. According to the rules and regulations of UWW (United World Wrestling), for all competitions, weigh-ins are organised every morning for the respective category,” Mandaviya said.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has lodged a "strong protest" with the world wrestling body over this matter, he said.

While Phogat has received little to no support from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with some of their leaders making absurd statements, the athletic fraternity has come out in support of the wrestler.

Former gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra met Phogat in Paris after her shocking disqualification.Bindra hailed Vinesh for her resilience and said she will always be remembered in India’s Olympic history.

“Dear Vinesh, it is said that sport is a celebration of human will. I have known that to be true many times in my career but never has it resonated more than today.

“As I look around me, I see a nation and its people celebrate your unyielding resolve. You are a fighter – on and off the mat. Through you, we are learning what it means to never lose the fight in us, even as a loss weighs heavily,” Bindra wrote on his X account.

“You embody the true spirit of a warrior. Not all victories look alike. Some end up as a glittering souvenir in a cabinet but the ones that matter more find their way into the stories we tell our children.

“And every child in this country will know the champion you are. Every child will grow up wanting to face life with the resilience you have displayed. I thank you for that. Respect, Abhinav Bindra,” he added.

While a vile and hateful campaign by the right wing continues against Phogat, there has been massive support for the player as well.