Vinesh Phogat, India’s top female wrestler, is in the news after the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). She had filed a petition regarding her weight in the Paris Olympics, in which she had demanded tolerance for the weight of the singlet (wrestlers’ outfit). But CAS rejected her petition and made it clear that every athlete has to stay within the limit of his weight category, and no relaxation can be given in this.
What did CAS say
The CAS ruling said that the rules are the same for all participants in sports and no relaxation can be given in these rules, whether it is about the weight of the singlet or for any other reason. It is the responsibility of the athlete to remain within the limits of his weight category. Vinesh Phogat’s case was that her weight was 100 grams more than the prescribed limit. She had sought tolerance for this slight increase, as this increase was due to water retention due to menstruation and drinking water. However, the court did not accept it and made it clear that there is no provision for tolerance in the rules.
Will Vinesh return to wrestling?
Vinesh Phogat was very disappointed after this incident at the Paris Olympics. She was disqualified from participating in the final match for the gold medal. Frustrated by this incident, she announced her retirement on the social media platform X. However, after returning to India from Paris, when she met her village and family members, she received a lot of love and support from her supporters.
Addressing the crowd there, Vinesh said that she would try to muster some courage to heal this wound. At the same time, she also made a post on her social media. From which it seems that she can make a comeback. She also said that missing the Olympic medal is the biggest sorrow of her life, and she does not know how long it will take to heal this wound. But she also indicated that she wants to use the courage she has got in the right direction.