Vinesh Phogat case timeline: Before wrestler’s verdict from CAS, a look at the sequence of events

Vinesh Phogat Disqualification Appeal Live Updates, Paris Olympics: Vinesh Phogat will learn the fate of her plea to get a joint silver medal in the women’s 50kg weight class at the Paris Olympics when the Court of Arbitration for Sport gives its verdict.

Here’s a full sequence of events in Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s fight for Paris Olympics medal:

August 6: Vinesh Phogat takes down Japan’s Yui Susaki in the first round in a massive upset in the women’s 50kg event. The Japanese wrestler, who is a four-time world champion and reigning Olympic gold-medallist, was unbeaten in 82 bouts internationally coming into the clash with Vinesh Phogat. She then defeats Ukraine’s Oksana Livach and Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman Lopez in the 50kg semi-final bout to book a final against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt.

August 7 after midnight till weight-in: Due to her weight rebounding after the severe weight cut, Vinesh Phogat is a few kilograms over the weight limit after her semi-final. She and her coaching staff, including coach Woller Akos, start the process to cut down her weight against under the 50kg limit. She barely gets any sleep, water, or food. She does plenty of aerobatic exercises, besides wearing a sauna suit. The medical team, along with IOA’s experts like Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala try various methods to bring her weight under the limit, including trimming her hair and cutting off portions of her dress. But her weight is still above 50 kg. She is 100 grams over the stipulated weight, which results in her being disqualified as per competition regulations.

“We had tried all the drastic weight-cut measures through the night including cutting her hair, shortening her clothes, despite all of this we could not make that 50Kg weight category,” Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Contingent in Paris, said at a press conference in Paris along with IOA chief PT Usha.

“We found that her post-participation weight was increased more than normal and the coach initiated the normal process of weight cut, that he’s always employed with Vinesh. This is something that’s worked with her for a long period of time. He felt confident that this would be achieved and over the night, we went ahead with the weight-cut procedure. However, in the morning we found that despite all of our efforts, her weight was 100 grams over her 50Kg weight category. Hence, she was disqualified,” Pardiwala said.

August 7: The UWW and the Paris 2024 organisers announce that Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who was defeated by Vinesh Phogat in the semifinal, will take the Indian wrestler’s spot in the gold medal bout against USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.

August 7: A photo emerges showing Vinesh Phogat with Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha. In the image, Phogat appears puffy-eyed as Usha tries to console her. “We are providing Vinesh with all medical and emotional support. The Wrestling Federation Of India has filed an appeal to UWW to consider the decision to disqualify Vinesh and it is following this up in the strongest possible manner. I am aware of the relentless effort made by Vinesh’s medical team throughout the night so that she could meet the competition requirements,” legendary sprinter Usha said.

August 7: Vinesh Phogat, who gets support from the IOA, appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She wants that she be awarded a joint silver medal. Meanwhile, in the final between Hildebrandt and Lopez, and the American wrestler claims gold.

August 8 early morning: A heartbroken Vinesh Phogat, dejected, quits wrestling via X. “Ma kushti mere se jeet gayi, main har gayi (Mother, wrestling defeated me, and I have lost),” she said on X. Forgive me, your dream and my courage are all broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye, Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for your forgiveness.”

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