India’s leading lawyer, Harish Salve, will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing on Friday concerning wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics.
Salve, a former Solicitor General of India, confirmed his role in the case. The ad hoc hearing is set for 9:00 AM Paris time (12:30 PM IST). The CAS has established a special division in Paris, headed by US President Michael Lenard, to address cases during the Olympics.
On Wednesday morning, United World Wrestling, the sport’s governing body, disqualified Phogat for being 100 grams—about a fifth of a pound—over the weight limit. As a result, she missed the opportunity to become India’s first woman to compete in an Olympic final.
Phogat announced her retirement, stating, “My courage is broken; I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling, 2001-2024.”
Phogat had defeated four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan on Tuesday. She then secured victories in her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach (7-5) and her semifinal against Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (5-0), seemingly setting her up for a spot in Wednesday night’s championship match.
In response to the disqualification, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini declared on Thursday that Phogat will be awarded all the benefits of a silver medalist, despite her disqualification.
“Not just Haryana, but the whole country is proud of our daughter Vinesh. Some issues led to her disqualification, but the state government has decided to reward her as if she were a silver medalist. We cannot let her morale suffer,” said CM Saini.
He also criticized the opposition for politicizing the issue and emphasized the central government’s efforts to “boost the morale” of the country’s athletes.
