Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said that wrestler Vinesh Phogat deserved at least a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Phogat, a trailblazing grappler, made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final.
Despite making it to the final, Phogat’s dreams of a gold medal were crushed when she was disqualified for being just 100g over the 50kg weight limit. Ganguly argued that Phogat should still be awarded a silver medal, as she had met the weight requirements throughout the earlier rounds.
“While I’m uncertain of the specific qualification rules, I’m confident that she properly earned her spot in the finals. The finals competition awards only Gold or Silver medals. Whether her disqualification was justified or not, I can say she atleast deserves the Silver medal,” stated Ganguly to the press.
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed deep sympathy over Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Olympic wrestling final and her subsequent retirement from the sport, calling it a heartbreaking moment for the 29-year-old athlete.
“Vinesh Phogat’s retirement is a heartbreaking loss for India. After dedicating four to eight years to training and competition, she was poised to bring home multiple Olympic medals for the country. However, Phogat faced immense difficulties throughout her career. Despite her impressive achievements and the ritual dedication, she has now retired, leaving her fans and the nation deeply saddened,” commented Ashwin.
Vinesh Phogat has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a shared silver medal after being disqualified. The verdict on her appeal is expected on August 13.
Phogat was represented by a team of four French lawyers in the proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Additionally, Indian lawyers Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania were present, acting on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association.