Shruti Suman
India’s attention is now focused on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is expected to deliver a ruling on Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal to be declared a joint silver medalist in women’s 50kg wrestling category at Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh submitted her petition to the ad-hoc committee of CAS, established during the Olympics, and all relevant documents were submitted by Sunday, August 11.
According to media reports, Vinesh’s legal team may take advantage of a loophole in the regulations of the sport’s governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW). A report by Revsportz highlights that, while the UWW rules do not typically permit exceptions, the 100-gram margin by which Vinesh missed the weigh-in could be a point of contention. The rules currently suggest that such a margin cannot be overlooked, thus preventing Vinesh from being awarded a silver medal.
Under UWW rules, only those who lose to the finalist are eligible to compete in the repechage round. In the 50kg freestyle wrestling final, Japan’s Yui Susaki was permitted to fight for the bronze medal in the repechage rounds. However, since Vinesh was disqualified from the gold medal match due to the failed weigh-in, she was not considered a finalist. The final match was contested between Yusneylys Guzman of Cuba and Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA.
This raises the question: why was Susaki allowed to compete in the repechage if Vinesh had been disqualified? By the rules, Susaki should not have been eligible, yet UWW permitted her participation. This discrepancy points to a potential loophole in UWW’s regulations, which the Indian camp may seek to exploit during the final CAS hearing scheduled for Tuesday, prior to the verdict.
Vinesh’s legal team includes French lawyers Joelle Monlouis, Estelle Ivanova, Habbine Estelle Kim, and Charles Amson, who have been assisting her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) pro bono, courtesy of the Paris Bar. Additionally, senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have joined the team. Salve, who served as India’s Solicitor General from 1999 to 2003, notably represented India before the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.
If CAS rules in Vinesh Phogat’s favor then she will be awarded joint silver medal in women’s 50kg freestyle category.
Khushi Sikarwar
