Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s return to India from the Paris 2024 Olympics was a somber affair. The athlete, who had faced a heartbreaking disqualification from the gold medal bout due to weight issues, landed at the IGI airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning. Phogat’s journey to Paris was marred by a series of unfortunate events, culminating in her disqualification and subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Here’s a detailed timeline outlining the events that unfolded:
August 6:
Vinesh Phogat successfully weighed in for the women’s 50kg wrestling competition, setting the stage for her Olympic journey. She displayed remarkable resilience, overcoming a tough challenge in her first bout against four-time World champion and Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan. The victory propelled her to the quarterfinals. Phogat went on to defeat Oksana Livach of Ukraine to reach the Olympic semifinal for the first time and secured a 5-0 win over Lopez Guzman of Cuba to advance to the final.
However, the joy of victory was overshadowed by an ongoing battle against the weighing scale. As Phogat competed, her nutritionist closely monitored her food and fluid intake. Despite her efforts, she faced difficulties in meeting the weight requirements, which eventually led to a challenging situation.
August 7:
The night after her semifinal victory, Phogat found herself caught in a grueling battle against the weight limit. The weight cut proved to be a formidable opponent, and Phogat, along with her coaching team, resorted to extreme measures to make the weight. These measures included intense exercise, sauna sessions, and even hair trimming. However, despite their efforts, Phogat fell short of the required weight, resulting in her disqualification from the final.
August 8:
Devastated by the disqualification, Phogat filed an appeal with the CAS, initially seeking reinstatement for the gold medal bout. However, she later revised her appeal, requesting a joint silver medal. The CAS interim ruling was scheduled for August 8.
On the same day, a heavy weight of disappointment led Phogat to announce her retirement from wrestling. In an emotional message on social media, she expressed her anguish and thanked her supporters for their unwavering support.
August 9:
Vinesh’s case gained international attention as Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs from the USA spoke out in her favor, urging the CAS to award her a silver medal. The CAS ad hoc hearing commenced with the involvement of prominent legal figures, including former Solicitor General of India, Harish Salve, who represented Phogat. The hearing concluded with the matter being referred to Australian Dr. Annabelle Bennett, the sole arbitrator.
August 10-11:
The CAS extended the time limit for a decision, providing both parties with additional time to present documents before the arbitrator. The controversy surrounding the weight cut also led to a statement from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) defending the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, who had been criticized for his role in the events.
August 13-16:
The CAS verdict was deferred multiple times before being announced on August 14. Sadly, the court dismissed Vinesh’s appeal for a joint silver medal. Though the details of the case were not revealed, the verdict marked a painful end to Phogat’s Olympic dreams.
August 17:
Vinesh Phogat returned to India, carrying the weight of disappointment and the realization of her Olympic journey ending in a manner she had never anticipated. The events surrounding her disqualification have sparked discussions about weight management in sports, athlete well-being, and the complexities of achieving a dream in the face of unforeseen challenges.
