'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has lauded wrestler Vinesh Phogat for displaying exceptional resilience and composure during difficult times. He said despite facing adversity, she didn’t lose the smile on her face when they met on Saturday in the Olympic Village.
The 29-year-old wrestler suffered disqualification ahead of her final bout in the women’s 50 kg freestyle event at the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 grams overweight on the morning of the gold medal match.
However, Vinesh Phogat appealed in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), demanding a joint silver medal. The decision on the appeal is expected to be announced by the CAS on Tuesday, August 13.
Speaking at the felicitation ceremony at the India House for retaining the bronze medal, PR Sreejesh of the Indian men's hockey team said the entire Indian contingent is behind Vinesh Phogat and is praying for her to receive the silver medal, which will eventually improve India’s Paris Olympics medal tally.
Trending
“She was laughing when I met her at the village, but I know that she was hiding that feeling with that smile. It’s quite hard for any sportsperson,” Sreejesh said (via Firstpost).
“We are together and I will pray for her positive result so that we get another silver. It’s a mental trauma, but I hope she will manage it. She is an example for everybody in our country, not just in wrestling but in any sport. This is what we want,” Sreejesh added.
“Win or lose, you are a star. You have done your job to showcase to the world what calibre you have, what culture you come from, and how tough you are. She showed that. She may or may not have won a medal, but she has won the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians,” he concluded.
Vinesh Phogat made two appeals after her disqualification at the Paris Olympics 2024
Vinesh Phogat made two appeals right after her disqualification. One was to let her compete in the final bout and the other was to be awarded a joint silver medal with Guzman Lopez from Cuba.
However, the first appeal was denied while the CAS accepted her second appeal for hearing. The CAS is expected to decide and announce the verdict by August 13. However, the time limit can be extended “in exceptional circumstances”.
