Can a wrestling rule 'loophole' help Vinesh Phogat win silver? Key details before CAS verdict

In a surprising twist at the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle wrestling final, preventing her from competing for a gold medal. The disqualification came after she was found to be 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in. Vinesh has not taken this setback lightly and has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging the decision that denied her a place in the final.

United World Wrestling (UWW) stands firm against Vinesh¡¯s appeal, as reported by Revsportz. UWW insists that the weigh-in rules must be strictly adhered to, emphasizing that no exception for the 100-gram discrepancy can be made, ruling out a silver medal for Vinesh.

Potential loophole in UWW rules

However, a potential loophole in UWW¡¯s regulations might favour Vinesh. The rules state that the repechage round is for wrestlers defeated by finalists. Yui Susaki of Japan, defeated by Vinesh, participated in this round and won a bronze, although Vinesh, being disqualified, wasn't technically a finalist. The final featured Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba and Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA. This irregular application of the rules could be a key point in Vinesh's appeal.

Vinesh Phogat Disqualification pic.twitter.com/ZBEtWzCQL3

¡ª Mohak Mangal (@mohakmangal) August 8, 2024

Vinesh faced Hildebrandt in what was supposed to be her match for gold but was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit by a slight margin. Her impressive performance in earlier rounds, including a win over Susaki, made the disqualification even more disheartening.

Support for Vinesh Phogat

The disqualification has taken a heavy emotional toll on Vinesh, leading her to announce her retirement from international wrestling. In an emotional message on X (formerly Twitter), she expressed her disillusionment with the sport. This announcement marks the end of a notable career that saw her win numerous medals, including two World Championship bronzes, an Asian Games gold, and three Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Vinesh Phogat is a National Hero
byu/adarsh1145 inindiansports

Support for Vinesh has been widespread. Figures from the world of sports, including Rei Higuchi and Jordan Burroughs, have shown their support, with Indian sports legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Neeraj Chopra also backing her. They have highlighted her significant impact on Indian sports.

The International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling have expressed their sympathy but maintained that rules must be enforced. IOC President Thomas Bach recognized the human element of the situation, while UWW chief Nenad Lalovic stressed the importance of adhering to the established weigh-in procedures.

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