Vinesh Phogat reacts during the Women’s Freestyle 50kg match (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Dahiya voiced his disappointment and disgust over the verdict, stating that India was stripped of not just Silver, but rather a potential historic Gold medal.
The nation plunged into despair for Vinesh Phogat when the CAS issued their verdict for the Indian wrestler, stating that she wouldn’t receive a Silver medal from the Paris Olympics, and for many, it has been nothing short of a gut punch.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s plea for a silver medal, after getting disqualified from the Women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics 2024, was dismissed by the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday.
Vinesh, who stormed into the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle event with three convincing wins, including against wrestling royalty Yui Susaki of Japan last Tuesday, was debarred from the gold medal bout against eventual winner Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States as she was found 100gm above the prescribed limit in the customary morning weigh-in.
Shocked by the dramatic turn of events, the Indian grappler last Wednesday appealed against the decision at the CAS and demanded that she be given a joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who had lost to Vinesh but was later promoted to the final following the Indian’s disqualification.
But alas, it was just not meant to be for Vinesh, and National wrestling coach Virendra Dahiya voiced his disappointment and disgust over the verdict, stating that India was stripped of not just Silver, but rather a potential historic Gold medal.
#WATCH | On Vinesh Phogat’s application dismissed by CAS | National wrestling coach Virendra Dahiya says, “We were hoping that the decision would be in our favour. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) were hoping that… pic.twitter.com/wEnsEAMlX7— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2024
“We were hoping that the decision would be in our favour. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) were hoping that the decision would be in our favour, but unfortunately, the decision was not in our favour, and we missed out on a gold medal,” stated Dahiya to ANI.
“Vinesh is the most reputed women’s wrestler in India. She is very hard-working. We are really sad because we deserved at least a silver. This is an injustice to us.”
In an official release, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated that it stands in support of Phogat. The IOA is also exploring legal options so that the wrestler’s case is properly heard.
