Sachin Tendulkar Bats For Vinesh Phogat To Receive Olympic Silver Medal, Say ‘It’s Time For Umpire’s Call’
New Delhi: God of cricket Sachin Tendulkar backed wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who faced disqualification in a controversial way from the final bout of Women’s Freestyle 50kg competition at the Paris Olympics 2024.
In a strong tween, Tendulkar batted for Phogat to be awarded a silver medal, saying that her disqualification defies logic and goes against the spirit of fair play.
Tendulkar’s statement has struck a chord with many in India, where Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification just hours before her gold medal match caused a national uproar. Phogat, who was 100 grams over the weight limit during the second-day weigh-in, was barred from competing in the final despite having defeated World No. 1 Yui Susaki on her way to the gold medal bout. The decision, upheld by United World Wrestling (UWW), has been met with significant criticism and controversy.
#VineshPhogat #Paris2024 #Olympics @WeAreTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/LKL4mFlLQq
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 9, 2024
In his tweet, Tendulkar emphasized the importance of context in applying sporting rules. “Every sport has rules and those rules need to be seen in context, maybe even revisited at times. Vinesh Phogat qualified fair and square for the finals. Her disqualification by weight, was before the finals, and hence, for her to be robbed of a deserving silver medal defies logic and sporting sense,” he wrote.
Tendulkar further emphasized the stark contrast between Phogat’s situation and more serious breaches, such as doping, underscoring the perceived injustice in the severity of the consequences.
“It would have been understandable if an athlete were to have been disqualified for ethical breaches such as the usage of performance enhancing drugs. In that case, to not be awarded any medal and be placed last would be justifiable. However, Vinesh beat her opponents fairly to reach the top two. She definitely deserves a silver medal,” Tendulkar added.
Phogat’s disqualification has sparked a significant debate, with many calling for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to challenge the decision. The case has now been taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where Phogat is seeking annulment of her disqualification and a shared silver medal.
The CAS hearing, which is expected to deliver a verdict soon, could have far-reaching implications not only for Phogat’s career but also for the future of international wrestling regulations.
Tendulkar ended his statement on a hopeful note, encouraging fans to rally behind Phogat as she awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision. “While we all wait for a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, let us hope and pray that Vinesh gets the recognition she deserves.”