Nothing hurts more than disqualification, especially when it happens just one game away from gold and you’ve already secured silver. This is exactly what happened to India’s star grappler, Vinesh Phogat. Vinesh Phogat reached the final of the women’s 50 kg weight category after defeating the defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, she threw former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine out of the ring and then defeated Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba with a 5-0 scoreline.
However, Phogat did not receive any reward or Olympic medal as she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight on the day of her bout. As a result, Yusneylis Guzmán, whom Phogat had defeated in the semifinal, advanced to the final but ultimately lost to America’s Sarah Hildebrandt. But despite all this, there is a possibility that she might still receive a medal. How could this happen?
Can Vinesh Phogat still win a medal
Yes, it could happen. Vinesh Phogat has requested the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to declare her a joint silver medalist. Although nothing is confirmed yet, the good news is that her appeal has been accepted, and she might return to India with a medal. Initially, Phogat appealed to be allowed to compete in the gold medal match in the women’s 50 kg weight category, but this request was denied because, according to CAS, it was impossible to cancel the final event. However, her second request to be announced as a joint silver medalist might still be possible.
What is Court of Arbitration of Sports?
Headquartered in Switzerland, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is an international body that settles issues related to sports through arbitration and has control over all Olympic sports.
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