India’s hopes are now pinned on lawyer Harish Salve, who will represent wrestler Vinesh Phogat in her disqualification case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) today. Phogat, a top contender in the 50-kg wrestling category, was disqualified from the Paris Olympics just hours before the final due to a weight issue. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appealed for Phogat to be awarded a joint silver medal for her performance.
The CAS, established in 1984, is an international body that resolves sports disputes through arbitration.
Harish Salve, a former Solicitor General of India and a distinguished lawyer known for his expertise in constitutional, commercial, and arbitration law, has been engaged by the IOA to represent Phogat.
Notable cases Salve has handled include:
Kulbhushan Jadhav Case (2017): He represented India at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and successfully argued for a stay on Jadhav’s execution.
Ratan Tata vs Cyrus Mistry (2016): He represented Ratan Tata in a legal battle against Cyrus Mistry.
Vodafone Tax Dispute (2012): He secured a landmark victory for Vodafone in a high-profile tax dispute.
2G Spectrum Scam (2012): He appeared for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in this major case.
Sahara Group vs SEBI (2012): He represented the Sahara Group in a dispute with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Following her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday. In a heartfelt post on X, Phogat expressed her sense of defeat and gratitude, saying, “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.”
