Paris Olympics 2024, Hearing in Vinesh Phogat Case Today: Indian sports fraternity is eagerly awaiting the outcome of wrestler Vinesh Phogat's appeal against her disqualification from the Paris Olympics as the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is set to pronounce its verdict on Tuesday after hearing arguments from all sides. Vinesh, who reached the final of the women's 50kg freestyle event with three wins including a win against Japan's Yui Susaki last Tuesday, was knocked out of the title bout against eventual gold medallist Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA as she was found to be 100 grams over the prescribed limit during the weigh-in in the morning.

Shocked by this, the wrestler appealed against the decision in the Sports Arbitration last Wednesday and demanded that she be given a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusnelis Guzman Lopez. Lopez lost to Vinesh in the semi-finals but later got a place in the final after the Indian wrestler was disqualified. A day after being disqualified, Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport, saying that she did not have the strength to continue the game. However, veterans from around the world have supported the 29-year-old wrestler who was participating in her third Olympic Games.

Months before boarding the plane to Paris, Vinesh, along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, was leading a protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who was allegedly accused of sexual harassment and intimidation. The list of sports personalities supporting Vinesh also includes Japan's Olympic champion Rei Higuchi, who was similarly disqualified in Tokyo three years ago but won a gold medal in Paris. Apart from this, veteran American freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs had demanded the International Olympic Committee to give Vinesh a silver medal.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also believes that Vinesh should have got at least a silver medal. Champion shooter Abhinav Bindra, two-time Olympic medallist superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, and ace hockey player PR Sreejesh also supported Vinesh and reminded the country of her contribution to the sport. On the eve of the verdict, 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh also extended his support to Vinesh.

Vijender tweeted, "Sister Vinesh Phogat was with you before, is with you now and will be with you in future too." The ad hoc division of the Sports Arbitration Court, specially set up to resolve disputes during the Games, on Friday accepted Vinesh's appeal against disqualification. Vinesh's legal team includes French lawyers Joel Monluis, Estelle Ivanova, Habin Estelle Kim, and Charles Amson who helped her and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) while applying. Their services have been provided by the Paris Bar and they are handling the case free of cost.

Apart from this, senior lawyers Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have been roped in to assist them in the case. If the sports tribunal rules in favor of Vinesh, she will be awarded a joint silver medal.