'Hopeful that verdict will come in favour of Vinesh', Indian wrestler's uncle Mahavir Phogat after CAS decision deferred

Vinesh Phogat’s uncle, Mahavir Phogat, said that he and his family are hopeful of a positive outcome when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announces the verdict regarding Vinesh’s appeal for joint-silver medal on Friday (16 August).

The CAS verdict on Vinesh’s appeal for a joint-silver medal at the Paris Olympics, was initially expected to come out before the conclusion of the Games on 11 August. However, on 10 August, that was then deferred to after the Olympics on 13 August, when once again the CAS failed to come up with a decision. On 13 August, the verdict was deferred for a third time inside a week to 16 August. The verdict is now expected to be out by 9.30 pm IST on 16 August, which is 6 pm Paris time.

“We are hopeful that the verdict will come on 16th in favour of Vinesh. We are eagerly waiting for the decision,” Mahavir Phogat told CNN News18.

Mahavir added that Vinesh would be welcomed back whenever she returned. Vinesh arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning from Paris. “We will welcome whenever Vinesh will come back,” he added.

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Vinesh had on 6 August qualified for the final of the women’s 50 kg wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics. However, on 7 August, it was declared that the 29 year-old was overweight by 100 grams after she took the second weigh-in earlier that day.

Vinesh was due to take on USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt that day, but the Balali-born athlete was disqualified from the gold medal bout for being overweight.

Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman, who had lost to Vinesh in the semi-finals, eventually took her place in the final. On the same day, Vinesh appealed to the CAS and sought to be awarded with a joint-silver medal. A day after the final, on 8 August, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling.