Wrestler Vinesh Phogat is awaiting a decision on her potential silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after being disqualified from the final in the 50kg wrestling event. Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has voiced his support for Phogat and addressed her disqualification.
On Friday, Tendulkar shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the disqualification, which occurred due to Phogat being 100 grams over the 50kg limit on the second day of competition, was unfair. Tendulkar stated:
“Every sport has rules and those rules need to be seen in context, maybe even revisited at times. Vinesh Phogat qualified fair and square for the finals. Her disqualification by weight was before the finals, and hence, for her to be robbed of a deserving silver medal defies logic and sporting sense.”
He further elaborated:
“It would have been understandable if an athlete were to have been disqualified for ethical breaches such as the usage of performance enhancing drugs. In that case, to not be awarded any medal and be placed last would be justifiable. However, Vinesh beat her opponents fairly to reach the top two. She definitely deserves a silver medal.”
Tendulkar concluded his statement by expressing hope for Phogat’s recognition:
“While we all wait for a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, let us hope and pray that Vinesh gets the recognition she deserves.”
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is assisting Phogat with her appeal following the disqualification. The rules of United World Wrestling (UWW) dictate that results are annulled if a wrestler fails to make weight on any competition day. Despite making weight on the first day and winning three bouts, Phogat’s second-day disqualification led to her results being annulled.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set up an ad hoc division in Paris, led by President Michael Lenard from the US, to address such cases during the Olympics. The division is based within the Paris judicial court in the 17th arrondissement.
Following the disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday.
