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Is there a loophole that could turn Vinesh Phogat’s bronze into silver at the Paris Olympics 2024? According to some experts, there might be, and it involves the repechage rounds and a technicality in the United World Wrestling’s rulebook.
As you may recall, Vinesh Phogat won a bronze medal in the 50kg freestyle wrestling event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal. However, her dream of winning a gold or silver medal was shattered when she lost to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus in the semifinals. Vinesh then had to compete in the repechage rounds, where she defeated Sofia Mattsson of Sweden and then Maria Prevolaraki of Greece to claim the bronze medal.
Now, Vinesh and her team are hoping to upgrade that bronze to a silver medal, based on a technicality in the repechage rules. According to the UWW rulebook, the wrestler who loses to the finalist in the quarterfinals or semifinals is eligible for the repechage, which is a second chance to win a medal. However, if the finalist reaches the gold medal match, the wrestler who lost to the semifinalist is also eligible for the repechage, as long as the semifinalist reaches the final.
In Vinesh’s case, she lost to Kaladzinskaya in the semifinals, but Kaladzinskaya did not reach the final, as she lost to Risako Kawai of Japan in the gold medal match. Therefore, Vinesh’s opponent in the repechage rounds, Sofia Mattsson, should not have been eligible for the repechage, as she did not lose to the finalist. Instead, Vinesh should have faced the loser of the other semifinal, which was Kawai’s opponent, who happened to be the reigning Olympic champion, Helen Maroulis of the United States.
If Vinesh had faced Maroulis in the repechage, she would have had a chance to win a silver medal, as Maroulis eventually won the bronze medal. However, since Vinesh faced Mattsson instead, she had to settle for the bronze medal, which is still a great achievement, but not what she and her fans had hoped for.
Now, Vinesh’s lawyers and supporters are arguing that this technicality in the rulebook could benefit her in her case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where she is appealing for a silver medal. They claim that the UWW should have followed its own rules and given Vinesh a fair chance to compete for the silver medal, instead of allowing Mattsson to take that spot.
The final CAS hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday, and the decision could have implications not only for Vinesh but also for other wrestlers who might face similar situations in the future. Some experts believe that the UWW should clarify and simplify its repechage rules to avoid confusion and controversy.
In conclusion, Vinesh Phogat’s case highlights the importance of paying attention to the details and the rules in sports, especially in high-stakes events like the Olympics. While it remains to be seen whether Vinesh will get her silver medal or not, her determination and talent have already inspired millions of people around the world, and her legacy as a trailblazer for Indian women’s wrestling is secure.
