'Shock and disappointed': IOA releases statement after CAS Dismisses Vinesh Phogat's Appeal

Vinesh Phogat CAS Verdict: The wait in the Vinesh Phogat case has finally ended and it has not been positive. The Indian grappler will not be awarded the silver medal as decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Indian wrestler who was assured of a silver medal in the freestyle wrestling finals weighed 100 grams more than her stipulated 50 kg mark on the morning of the finals and hence missed her chance to make history by a whisker.

CAS' Operative Order On Vinesh Phogat's Plea

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr PT Usha on the morning of Vinesh's disqualification. After her Olympic heartbreak, Phogat decided to hang up her boots and announced her retirement from Wrestling. The IOA sought help from Former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve who was helping Phogat with her plea.

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The CAS verdict was initially supposed to come out on 11th August, but for some reason was pushed to the 13th of the same month. With the entire nation waiting for a verdict in Phogat's case, the CAS deferred the verdict till August 16. Now the CAS has issued an operative order which clarifies the fact that Vinesh will not get her silver medal.

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PT Usha Expresses Disappointment

'The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr PT Usha has expressed her shock and disappointment at the decision of the Sole Arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to dismiss wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s application against the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).' quoted by ANI.

No Silver Lining For India's Champion

The young India grappler might have missed out on her well deserved silver medal, but nonetheless, she still remains India's champion athlete. In 2014, Phogat scripted history by becoming only the third Indian woman wrestler  to win a medal in wrestling at the Asian Game. She repeated heroics again in the 2018 Asian Games by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold.

Phogat also has the distinction of winning two bronze medals (2019 and 2022) at the World Championships.