Here’s what Vinesh Phogat told court about gaining weight before crucial Olympic finals

India is anxiously awaiting the verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding wrestler Vinesh Phogat's plea for a joint silver medal. Disqualified from her final bout in the Women's Freestyle 50kg category for exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams, Phogat contends that a tight schedule and the distance between the Athletes' Village and the Champ de Mars Arena contributed to her weight discrepancy, according to an Indian Express report.

Phogat's counsel has highlighted these logistical issues, asserting that the tight schedule between bouts did not afford her adequate time to reduce her weight, which had reached 52.7kg after the first day of competition. They emphasised that the 100 grams over the limit is minor, representing just 0.1 to 0.2 percent of her body weight. The counsel suggested this slight excess could be attributed to natural factors such as water retention due to summer heat, muscle gain from competing multiple times in one day, or even post-competition food intake to maintain health and energy.

Additionally, Phogat's team has argued that there is a disproportionate impact between the minimal excess weight and the severe consequence of being barred from the finals and losing the silver medal she earned through rigorous effort. They have also stressed the importance of prioritising athlete health over strict adherence to weight limits.

The CAS is now tasked with determining whether Phogat’s disqualification was proportionate or whether her medal should be upheld given the extenuating circumstances. (With inputs from Agencies)