From heaven to hell, Vinesh Phogat’s journey in the Paris Olympics has been one that will be scarred into the memories of an entire nation for years to come.
From going where no other Indian female Olympic wrestler had gone, to letting it all slip away, Phogat’s story is one rife with grief, and perhaps one that may weigh down on the nation for a while to come.
In the wake of the CAS’s verdict on Vinesh Phogat’s appeal which stated -, let us take a trip down the hectic and frantic couple of days over which the entire fiasco unfolded.
Tuesday, August 6: Vinesh Blitzes Through the Competition to Reach Final
Despite coming back from an injury that had worried the wrestler, and fighting in a weight class foreign to her, Vinesh Phogat was nothing short of sensational in her Paris Olympics campaign.
Phogat, who has been in the midst of controversy galore over the past year, got off to a trailblazing start at the Paris Olympics, as she sunk the reigning world champion Japan’s Yui Susaki in the first round of the Women’s 50kg Freestyle event.
Her dream run in the Paris Olympics continued as she got the better of Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals of the 50kg Women’s Freestyle event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Phogat then showcased her experience and vigilance as she surgically dismantled Livach 7-5 to seal her spot in the semifinal, where she once again made light work of Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to seal her spot in the final with a 5-0 victory.
What started off as a regular Tuesday for Vinesh ended with her becoming the first-ever female Indian wrestler to reach the Olympic final, as she was on the cusp of a possibly historic Gold, with just one bout to go.
But, this is where things would take a nasty turn.
Tuesday, August 6 Post-Victory: Vinesh Struggles to Make the Cut for Her Weight Class
The weigh-in process is a critical part of any wrestling competition and is followed for every international event under the International Wrestling Rules of United World Wrestling.
Weigh-ins are conducted each morning for the relevant weight category. The weigh-in and medical control sessions last 30 minutes.
On the second morning, only wrestlers participating in the repechages and finals need to undergo the weigh-in, which lasts 15 minutes.
A reportedly dehydrated Vinesh made the cut on the first day of her Olympic campaign, Tuesday, and hence was ruled eligible to compete.
But, after her day’s bouts had ended with her securing qualification to the final, it was said that Vinesh had recuperated with fluids later to help her body recover, thereby pushing her body weight to a reported 52.7kg, well beyond the permissible limit of 50kg.
A frantic Phogat along with her team were said to have indulged in various exercises to shed the weight in time for her second weigh-in in the morning. Vinesh is said to have spent 6 hours on the treadmill, and another 3 hours in the sauna in a desperate attempt to to lose the excess weight. Her team and herself had resorted to even desperate measures such as chopping her hair shorter and snipping her costume to somehow make the cut.
But, only more bad news would lie ahead for the Indian.
Wednesday, August 7: UWW Announces Phogat’s Disqualification, Stripping Away Her Final Bout Along With An Assured Medal
After a prolonged night of desperate attempts, there would be no redemption for Phogat, as the Indian would weigh in at 50.1kg during the second weigh-in, 100 grams over the permissible limit.
Therefore, the staff of the United World Wrestling declared her disqualified from the event, stripping her of even the confirmed silver medal.
Wednesday, August 7: Vinesh and IOA Appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Vinesh was disqualified not just from the final but from the entire event meaning she wouldn’t get any medal despite making it to the title bout.
After this, Vinesh appealed to the CAS against her disqualification on two counts. The first was to let her weigh in again, which the court rejected and the gold medal match went ahead as scheduled. The second appeal was to award her a silver medal because she had earned it with a proper weigh-in on Tuesday.
CAS acknowledged the appeal and was expected to deliver a final verdict by Thursday at 11:30 AM IST.
Thursday, August 8: Vinesh Phogat Announces Retirement From Wrestling
A heartbroken Vinesh would shock the nation with the unexpected news of her retirement the day after she sent the appeal.
The wrestler took to X, where she expressed her heartbreak, saying, “Maa kushti jeet gayi, main haar gayi” (Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost).
Vinesh apologised to her fans, saying her courage had crumbled, and she could no longer continue. Her farewell marked the end of an illustrious career spanning from 2001 to 2024. Vinesh also expressed her gratitude, saying she’ll forever be indebted to her supporters. “Alvida, kushti,” she concluded, ending an era in Indian wrestling.
Thursday, August 8: IOA Secures Harish Salve to Represent Vinesh in Rescheduled CAS Hearing
Fighting against the clock, the IOA requested additional time to appoint a lawyer for Vinesh Phogat’s appeal before the CAS. In reply, the CAS granted the Indian contingent until 9:30 PM IST on Thursday to finalise their legal representation.
This is when Senior advocate Harish Salve agreed to represent Vinesh Phogat at the Court of Arbitration for Sports for for the hearing, which was now rescheduled to 10 AM local time on Friday (1:30 PM IST).
Friday, August 9: CAS Hearing Takes Place, Vinesh Makes Her Case
The CAS Ad Hoc Division registered Vinesh Phogat’s appeal to be awarded the silver medal on Friday. And the much-anticipated hearing finally commenced.
According to multiple reports, a handful of arguments were raised as a part of Vinesh’s appeal.
The initial fundamental argument that was raised was that Phogat had not committed any fraud or foul play. The next argument made was concerning the weight gain, which got Vinesh disqualified. Vinesh’s representatives had stated that the weight gain was merely a natural bodily process, that took place as a part of recovery after her bouts, and that it is her fundamental right to care for her physical well-being.
Another major point of contention that has been raised also has to do with how Phogat had successfully maintained her weight within the prescribed limit on the first day of her competition. And so, ended her proceedings.
Saturday, August 10: CAS Announces That Verdict Shall Be Released
After the end of the proceedings, the CAS released a statement on Saturday morning, saying that the decision would be released by 6 PM local time (9.30 pm IST).
“By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules from the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division extends the time limit for the Panel to give a decision until 10 August 2024 at 18h00 (Paris time),” a statement from the CAS said.
Wednesday, August 14: CAS Dismisses Vinesh Phogat’s plea
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finally dismissed Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the Olympic Games final.
“The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 is dismissed,” read the operative part of the decision rendered by CAS on Wednesday.
The rejection of her appeal meant India’s tally from the Paris Olympics will be six medals which included one silver and five bronze.