Vinesh Phogat: A Champion Already, always!
Vinesh Phogat has made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. With a strong chance of securing India’s first gold medal at the Paris Games.
Abhinav Bindra, India’s first-ever gold medalist, described Vinesh’s journey: “A torn ligament. A lower weight category. An unbeaten world champion. Nothing stands in her way.” However, he omitted one significant challenge: the adversity Vinesh faced off the mat. In May of the previous year, Vinesh and fellow wrestlers including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik took to the streets of Delhi. They were demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Accused of sexually harassing several female athletes, igniting a nationwide controversy.
The wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar was met with police force. Moving the nation and prompting support from top athletes like Neeraj Chopra, who expressed his dismay on social media. The WFI was eventually suspended, and Brij Bhushan did not participate in the subsequent elections. Though his successor, Sanjay Singh, faced resistance.
Vinesh Phogat: A Champion Already, always!
Vinesh returned to wrestling in February 2024, winning the nationals in the 55kg category. In March, she made an unconventional decision to compete in the 50kg and 53kg categories, winning the lighter division in the selection trials for the Asian wrestling championships and the Asian Olympic Games qualifier. In April, she secured an Olympic quota in the women’s 50kg category by reaching the final of the Asian Olympic qualifier.
Now, just four months later, Vinesh stands on the brink of a monumental achievement. She has already handed Japanese world No. 1 and reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki her first international defeat, followed by victories over 2018 European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine and Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba.
This Thursday, Vinesh will face the biggest match of her career, but regardless of the outcome, she has already proven herself a champion both on and off the mat.