Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler-turned-politician, retired following her heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics. Vinesh was poised to win at least a silver medal in the 50kg freestyle wrestling category at the 2024 Games, but he missed the obligatory weigh-in by 100 grams and was dismissed by the officials. Vinesh even challenged the ruling in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but she did not receive a favorable outcome. Later, the ace wrestler decided to leave the sport.
However, on Monday, Vinesh posted on Instagram, hinting to a return to the mat. She wrote, “I understand that you are exhausted today. I agree that you’re the injured bird today. But you still have bravery. You are still alive.
On August 14, an ad hoc division of the CAS rejected her appeal against a heartbreaking exclusion from the final for being 100gm overweight, eliciting a strong reaction from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). On Monday, the CAS issued a thorough ruling outlining why Vinesh’s appeal was dismissed. There is no tolerance indicated; this is an upper limit. It doesn’t even account for the weight of the singlet. “It is the athlete’s responsibility to stay below that limit,” the CAS stated.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the applicant exceeded the weight restriction. She presented the foregoing evidence plainly and frankly at the hearing. Her point is that the excess was 100g, and that tolerance should be applied because it is a tiny excess that may be explained by factors such as consuming water in addition to water retention, particularly during the premenstrual phase.”Vinesh, 29, had been eliminated on the morning of the gender 50kg freestyle final. Her appeal was decided after three postponements.