’’She is a champion for us’’: Amit Rohidas extends his support to Vinesh Phogat

Sporting fraternity express disappointment over CAS dismissing Phogat’s appeal for shared silver and her disqualification from the Paris Olympics

Vinesh Phogat. Pic/Getty Images

The Indian sporting fraternity reacted with disappointment at the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) verdict rejecting wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her Olympic disqualification, but said she will remain a champion for them. The ad-hoc division of the CAS on Wednesday rejected Vinesh’s appeal against a gut-wrenching disqualification from the Paris Olympics 50kg final for being 100gm overweight, which dashed any hopes of securing a belated silver medal.

“It’s disappointing, but we can’t do anything about that,” hockey legend PR Sreejesh, who retired after inspiring the Indian team to a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal in the Paris Games, said. Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said a medal has been snatched away from Vinesh. “I believe your medal was snatched away in this darkness. You are shining like a diamond in the whole world today,” Punia, who led a long sit-in protest along with Vinesh and Sakshi Malik accusing former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women grapplers, posted on X.

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Kohinoor of India

“World champion pride of Hindustan, Rustam-e-Hind Vinesh Phogat, you are the Kohinoor of the country. It’s Vinesh Phogat all over the world. Those who want medals, can buy them for R15 each,” he wrote with a picture of Vinesh wearing several medals. The 29-year-old Vinesh was disqualified on the morning of the women’s 50kg freestyle final last week. In her appeal, Vinesh had demanded that she be given joint silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to her in the semi-finals, but was promoted to the summit clash following the Indian’s disqualification.

“It is a sad news, but what can we say. A sportsperson works extremely hard and if something like this happens with anyone, it hurts. For us, Vinesh is a star, will always be,” said hockey player Jarmanpreet Singh. His teammate Amit Rohidas said “the whole of India is with her. She should held her head high. She is a champion for us and the country.”

Very unfortunate: Dahiya

National wrestling coach Virendra Dahiya termed the CAS decision “unfortunate”. “It is very unfortunate and a jolt for us. We were very hopeful that the decision would be in our favour. But it is unfortunate for Indian wrestling and the country,” he said. Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha had also expressed “shock and disappointment” at the turn of events. The body also lashed out at the “inhumane regulations” of the United World Wrestling (UWW) that fail to consider the “physiological and psychological stresses faced by athletes”.

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