WATCH - First Visuals of Vinesh Phogat as she leaves Olympic Games Village ahead of CAS Verdict

Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s most prominent wrestlers, was spotted leaving the Olympic Games Village in Paris on Monday, August 12, 2024. This sighting comes just a day after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics and mere days before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to announce its verdict on a pivotal appeal filed by the athlete.

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Vinesh Phogat leaves Paris Games venue 

Vinesh Phogat has remained relatively quiet in the media following the incident, but her departure from the Olympic Games Village has sparked widespread speculation about her state of mind and the possible outcomes of her appeal. Fans and supporters are eagerly awaiting the CAS decision, which could either vindicate her or confirm her disqualification.

Vinesh, who was expected to be a strong contender for a medal in the women’s 50kg wrestling category, faced a significant setback last week. Just hours before her scheduled final match, she was disqualified from competing after being found 100 grams overweight during the final weigh-in on the morning of the match. This disqualification sent shockwaves through the Indian sports community, as Vinesh was widely regarded as one of India’s best hopes for a gold medal in wrestling.

In response to this disqualification, Vinesh Phogat filed an urgent appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, challenging the decision and seeking to overturn her disqualification. The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications not only for Vinesh but for India's standing in the overall medals tally. After the disqualification, Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport.

The CAS verdict is scheduled to be announced on August 13, 2024. It was earlier slated to be announced on August 10 but was later deferred to a later date.

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Had the disqualification not happened, Vinesh Phogat could have won her maiden Olympic medal in Paris. He was part of the Indian contingent in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 but did not win any medal.