The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Paris has wrapped up its hearing regarding Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal for a joint silver medal following her disqualification from the women’s 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) remains hopeful for a positive outcome.

Phogat, who was disqualified for being 100 grams over the permissible weight limit during the weigh-in before her gold-medal bout against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the USA, had requested a joint silver medal. Hildebrandt eventually went on to win gold, while Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who replaced Phogat, secured silver.

The CAS ad-hoc division, established to handle disputes during the Games, hosted the hearing on Friday, with Phogat participating virtually. Senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania represented Phogat, while United World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee were also involved in the proceedings.

The IOA expressed optimism about the appeal’s resolution, though no interim order was announced immediately. “The Sole Arbitrator, Dr. Annabelle Bennett AC SC from Australia, conducted a thorough hearing with all involved parties,” the IOA stated. They anticipate a decision soon, with a detailed explanation to follow.

PT Usha, head of the IOA, extended gratitude to the legal team for their support and reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering backing for Phogat. “Regardless of the outcome, we stand by Vinesh and are proud of her exceptional career achievements,” Usha commented.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach addressed the matter earlier, expressing understanding for Phogat’s situation but questioning the precedent of allowing minor weight discrepancies. “Where do we draw the line? With differences as small as 100 grams, how do we apply this consistently in sports where precision matters even more?” Bach remarked.

As the wrestling community and fans await the final verdict, the outcome of this appeal remains a critical moment for Phogat’s Olympic journey and the broader discourse on competition regulations.