Neeraj Chopra on CAS deferring Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic silver appeal

Silver medal winner in men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024, Neeraj Chopra supported Vinesh Phogat and is awaiting the verdict by CAS.

People and athletes around the world, especially from India, are hoping that the verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) goes in favor of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had reached the final event of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling category, but hours before her final bout was ousted stating she was overweight by 100 grams. However, CAS has again deferred the verdict date, which is now said to be on August 13. CAS said that they would need more time to deliberate on the Indian wrestler’s appeal for a silver medal against her disqualification from the final of women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Vinesh Phogat finds support in Neeraj Chopra.

Vinesh Phogat continues to find support among fellow Olympians, and Neeraj Chopra, who recently won a silver medal for India at the men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024, is added to the list. Neeraj Chopra, who has become the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win back-to-back medals at the Olympics as he followed a gold win in Tokyo with a silver in Paris, is hopeful of a positive outcome on Vinesh’s plea. However, he also feared the people of India would forget her if the decision goes the other way.

What did Neeraj Chopra say on the CAS delay in the verdict on Vinesh Phogat?

He told reporters at “India House” after getting felicitated by IOC member and Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani, “If she gets the medal, it would be very good. If things had not panned out the way they did, she would have had the medal. I hope she gets it because if you don’t have it around your neck, that thing stays in your heart.” He added, “Today people might say that she is our champion but, I feel till the time one is not on the podium they will forget after a few days. Mujhe yeh darr hai bas. Agar aisa na hota, a medal wouldn’t have mattered. So, I hope she gets the medal. I just hope whether she gets the medal or not, people don’t forget what she did for the country.”