Vinesh Phogat Can Still Win Silver Medal in Paris, Court of Arbitration Accepts Appeal

India woke up to some shocking news after wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced that she was retiring. The Indian grappler's decision came after it was revealed that she was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after she was found 100 gms overweight during the weigh-ins before the Women's 50kg Freestyle Final. Vinesh was assured of a silver medal, but the disqualification left her medal-less and India's medal tally stuck at three. The Indian grappler had appealed against the decision to the CAS. The Court of Arbitration for Sports has accepted Vinesh Phogat's appeal. The Indian wrestler can still win Silver medal. 

CAS Rules in favour of wrestler Vinesh Phogat

The announcement that Vinesh Phogat had been disqualified prior to her gold medal match in the Women's 50kg Freestyle Event sparked a wave of disappointment. After her disqualification, the Indian grappler approached the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and filed an appeal, where she requested a joint silver medal. Phogat had defeated Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semis to advance into the final and was slated to face USA's Sarah Hildebrandt.

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After her disqualification from the finals due to being 100 grams overweight ahead of her 50kg category bout in the ongoing Olympics, Vinesh Phogat announced her decision to retire from the sport. She took to the microblogging site ‘X’. She sought forgiveness from everyone who backed her up in every circumstance.

"Mother wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken. I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me)," Vinsh tweeted on 'X'

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Vinesh has always competed in the 53kg category. But she was forced to come down to 50kg just months before the Games after the Paris quota place in that division was locked by wrestler Antim Panghal. Phogat also underwent an ACL surgery on her road to the Paris Olympics.

Sarah Hildebrandt eventually won the Women's 50kg Freestyle Final and clinched the gold after she defeated wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez. The Cuban Wrestler who replaced Vinesh was presented with the silver.