Ace wrestler Vinesh was found to be overweight by 100 grams during her second weigh-in on Wednesday, resulting in the 29-year-old getting disqualified from Paris Olympics women’s 50kg event. read more
Vinesh Phogat exercised whole night to lose the 2kg excess weight but failed the second weigh-in by 100 grams. PTI
Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat has refused to throw in the towel after receiving the heart-breaking news of getting disqualified from the women’s 50kg event in the Paris Olympics by lodging an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Vinesh had stormed into the final of the women’s 50kg category by winning all three of her bouts on Tuesday, including a stunning 3-2 victory over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan, who had been on an 82-match winning streak heading into the Olympics.
Just when she was preparing to face USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the final, Vinesh was found to be overweight by 100 grams during the second weigh-in on Wednesday, resulting in the 29-year-old getting disqualified from the event that will have her finish last in the competition.
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The two-time world champions bronze medallist, however, hasn’t lost hope despite the latest setback in her career, and has lodged an appeal before the Lausanne-based body that was set up in 1984 to settle international sporting disputes.
According to broadcasters JioCinema, Vinesh has lodged an appeal at CAS against her disqualification and has asked for her to be awarded joint-silver if she cannot fight for gold anymore.
The broadcasters further stated that CAS has asked for time until Thursday morning to come up with its verdict, which will be final and binding.
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Following her disqualification, Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman was upgraded to the final and she now faces Hildebrandt in the gold medal clash. Vinesh had blanked Guzman 5-0 in the semi-final after her stunning victory over Susaki following by a 7-5 win over Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the quarter-finals.
If the CAS does rule in her favour on Thursday, Vinesh will continue India’s tradition of winning at least one medal at the Olympics in wrestling since 2008.