Renowned Indian lawyer Harish Salve has been appointed to represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the high-profile case involving the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics.
With his extensive experience in handling complex legal and procedural matters, Salve is expected to skillfully navigate the intricacies of the dispute and effectively advocate for the IOA’s interests.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has established a special ad hoc division in Paris, led by President Michael Lenard from the United States, to manage cases during the Olympics. This division is situated within the Paris judicial court in the 17th arrondissement.
On Thursday, after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics final, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport. In an emotional post on X, Phogat expressed a deep sense of loss and gratitude, writing, “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness.”
In response, Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India, urged Phogat to reconsider her decision. Speaking to ANI, Singh emphasized that Phogat’s announcement appeared hasty and advised her to discuss her retirement with her family, the Federation, and other sports officials upon her return to India. He acknowledged her significant contributions to wrestling and suggested that making such a decision in the heat of the moment might be premature.