A Failed Second Weigh-In Ended Phogat’s Paris Medal Bid
Vinesh Phogat’s route to the Paris 2024 women’s 50kg final ended with a failed second-day weigh-in on August 7. United World Wrestling disqualified her and promoted semifinal opponent Yusneylys Guzmán López into the gold-medal match.
Three victories had carried her to the final
The previous day, Phogat defeated Japan’s defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki 3–2 in the opening round. A takedown in the closing seconds erased Susaki’s advantage before an unsuccessful Japanese challenge settled the final margin.
Phogat followed that upset by beating Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7–5. A 5–0 semifinal victory over Guzmán then appeared to secure a championship meeting with American Sarah Hildebrandt.
UWW applied the second-day rule
UWW explained that a wrestler who fails either weigh-in is eliminated under Article 11 of its international rules. When a finalist fails the second weigh-in, the wrestler she defeated in the semifinal replaces her.
That procedure sent Guzmán to the final against Hildebrandt. It also changed the other part of the bracket, placing Susaki directly into the bronze-medal match against Livach.
The appeal did not restore a medal
Phogat asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to award her a shared silver medal. A sole arbitrator heard the parties on August 9, and CAS announced dismissal of the application on August 14.
The decision confirmed UWW’s ruling. Phogat’s three victories on the opening day remained the competitive background to the appeal, but the failed weigh-in prevented her from receiving the medal she sought.
Sources
- UWW: weigh-in rule and resulting bracket changes
- UWW: Phogat’s three first-day bout scores
- UWW: Susaki upset and decisive late attack
- CAS: hearing, requested remedy and final dismissal
