Vinesh Phogat's wait for a joint silver medal at Paris 2024 Olympics continues as CAS defers verdict to August 16
The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has deferred its verdict on Vinesh Phogat's appeal for the joint silver medal after her disqualification from the women's 50 kg freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Indian wrestler was found to be overweight by 100 grams ahead of the gold medal match.
The CAS, which had been expected to deliver its verdict on the matter on Tuesday, has now extended the time limit for the panel to reach its decision until August 16.
The hopes of Vinesh Phogat and Indian sports fans continue to hinge on the verdict that is to be delivered by the CAS following the Indian wrestler's disqualification at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The CAS deferred the verdict for a third time after Harish Salve and the Indian Olympic Association were set to address the media at 9:30 pm IST.
Senior Counsel Harish Salve and the former Solicitor General of India Vidushpat Singhania represented Vinesh Phogat during the hearing of the case by the CAS.
Vinesh made it to the gold medal match of the 50 kg freestyle event by getting past Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba 5-0 in the semifinal.
The 29-year-old, who was all set to square off with Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States in the final, had earlier defeated Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan in the round of 16.
Vidushpat Singhania hopeful of positive outcome in Vinesh Phogat's case
Vinesh Phogat's lawyer, Vidushpat Singhania, earlier expressed hope that the decision of the CAS would be in favor of the champion wrestler from Haryana.
Ahead of the scheduled verdict, which was subsequently deferred, Singhania declared on Tuesday that Vinesh was a "champion" regardless of the verdict.
"Vinesh was represented by 4 lawyers. She is the applicant and United World Wrestling (UWW) and International Olympic Committee are the respondents and Indian Olympic Association is an interested party. We hope the decision will come in Vinesh's favour. She is a champion no matter what CAS's verdict is and should be respected like one," Singhania told ANI.
Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics has issued a statement saying that the CAS panel will not reconsider a decision that requires Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal that she won in the floor exercise event at the Paris Olympics.
Chiles' final score was challenged by the Romanian gymnastics team after she had initially been placed fifth with a score of 13.666, which was revised to 17.666 following an inquiry.
Indian sports fans, however, continue to remain hopeful that Vinesh Phogat, who had qualified for the gold-medal match, will be awarded a joint-silver despite her disqualification from the 50 kg freestyle event.
The final verdict is expected to be delivered at 9:30 pm IST on Friday, August 16.