'Keeps Getting Postponed': Mahavir Phogat's Reaction to CAS Again For Delaying Vinesh Phogat's Case

Vinesh Phogat CAS Verdict: The entire country along with Vinesh Phogat will have to wait till August 16, 2024. The CAS has deferred Vinesh's case for the second time. This is also the third date that has been allotted for the verdict. Phogat, who was assured of a silver medal was disqualified on the morning of her final bout after she weighed 100 grams more than her stipulated 50 kg mark. 

The Indian grappler was assured of a silver medal and was on the cusp to become only the second Indian woman to win a medal in wrestling after Sakshi Malik, but to Phogat's misfortune, she was disqualified. The Indian grappler announced her retirement from wrestling after the unfortunate incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened and gave all the necessary help to Vinesh in order to fight her case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) roped in former Solicitor General of India, Harish Salve for her appeal.

Vinesh Phogat's uncle Mahavir Phogat has reacted to it and has said that the verdict keeps on getting postponed continuously and waiting is the toughest thing to do.

Mahavir Phogat Said:

We had been waiting for the verdict for the last 5-6 days. We had been expecting the result but we are getting date after date. We will wait for the verdict from the CAS and we will accept it. 140 crore Indians are waiting for the verdict and we hope the decision is in our favour. When Vinesh will return, we will welcome her like a gold medallist.

Vinesh Awaits Her Silver Lining

In her appeal, Vinesh has demanded that she be given a joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to her in the semifinals but was promoted to the final following the Indian's disqualification. Vinesh's legal team has French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habbine Estelle Kim and Charles Amson who helped her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during the filing of the application. They have been provided to her by the Paris Bar and are handling the case pro bono.

In addition, senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania were also roped in to help her in the case. Interestingly, the IOA had sent out invites for an online press conference with its president PT Usha and Salve at the exact same time at which the verdict was expected this evening. That invite was withdrawn within minutes of the CAS statement.

Vinesh, who was making her third Olympic appearance here, announced her retirement from the sport a day after her disqualification, saying that she doesn't have the strength to continue. The world championships bronze-medallist had resorted to desperate measures to save herself from disqualification, including cutting her hair, going without food and water, and working out an entire night.

She ultimately needed IV fluids due to extreme dehydration and her plight evoked sympathy across the board.

Top fellow athletes like javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, hockey star P R Sreejesh and even cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar threw their weight behind her and advocated a silver medal.

(With PTI Inputs)