Vinesh Phogat 'to be robbed of deserving silver medal defies logic and sporting sense': Sachin Tendulkar

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has come out in support of Vinesh Phogat after the wrestler lost an Olympic medal in Paris 2024 for failing to make weight. After reaching the final of the 50kg category, Vinesh failed the weigh-in by an extra 100 grams on the day of the gold medal match, resulting in her disqualification.

Vinesh's appeal for a joint silver is now pending in front of the e Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more

Tendulkar extended her support to the wrestler with a post on X in which he stated that Vinesh was "robbed of a deserving silver medal".

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“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,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote.

“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. 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,” he added.

CAS to hear Vinesh Phogat’s appeal for joint-silver today: Harish Salve to represent Indian wrestler

The CAS is set to hear Vinesh's appeal on Friday and the verdict is "is expected to be issued before the end of the Olympic Games" as per the tribunal.