NEW DELHI: Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday became India’s first woman wrestler to reach the Olympic final and guaranteed herself of at least a silver medal after beating Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semis.
However, months before her journey to the final, Vinesh faced intense challenges, including police detention, backlash from a protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a weight class change and overcoming a knee surgery.
Despite the hurdles, her determination helped her become a history-maker in Paris.
While Vinesh faced a smear campaign aiming to tarnish her reputation during the protest against the former WFI chief, the grappler responded with fierce determination, bolstering her resolve.
As Vinesh focused on qualifying for the Paris Olympics, new obstacles emerged. Transitioning to the 50kg weight class after competing in 53kg for over five years posed a significant challenge. Her preparation involved complicated trial bouts and a knee surgery, following a previous ACL tear at the 2016 Rio Olympics that nearly ended her career.
The wrestler from Haryana faced intense pressure but shifted into high gear. Her journey, fraught with obstacles, led to a historic medal guarantee in Paris, reflecting her resilience and determination.
It’s a definitive response to her detractors in the national federation who criticized her for leading the protest against Brij Bhushan, accused of intimidation and sexual harassment. The police, courts, and government all became involved in the situation, resulting in widespread frustration due to traffic disruptions in Delhi.
During this time, critics doubted her mental clarity, but Vinesh, approaching her 30th birthday, remained steadfast. Her determination and confidence helped her secure a medal in the world’s foremost sporting event, completing her career’s decorated arc.
Her path to the Olympics included trials that required her to compete in two weight categories, securing her spot in 50kg. Weeks later, she qualified for the Olympics in the new weight class despite battling misinformation about evading a dope test. Her journey exemplifies courage and determination, meriting more than mere superlatives.
Recently, Vinesh managed dual battles: on and off the mat.
Her off-field struggles were more daunting than those faced in her village in Balali. The experiences, however, prepared her for competitive challenges. In Paris, she faced Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki, a four-time world Olympic champion who had never lost an international bout.
Vinesh, drawing from her off-field struggles and executing a perfect game plan, stunned Susaki in a major upset.
Following the significant win, Vinesh defeated eighth-seed Oksana Livach of Ukraine, securing her place in the semifinals of the women’s 50kg freestyle event. Overwhelmed with emotion, she lay on the mat with tears of joy.
In the semis, Vinesh triumphed over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, securing her historic medal and becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Her achievements followed years of overcoming various forms of resistance, from societal norms in her village to powerful federation officials.
Her path to success began with challenging the villagers’ belief that wrestling was only for men and dealing with the loss of her father at nine. Her resilience helped her tackle powerful figures within the wrestling federation.
Phogat’s journey in the spotlight began with spearheading a protest that brought her under scrutiny and police action. She fought against the odds with a belief in her righteousness, ultimately prevailing and demonstrating significant fortitude.
The transition from competing in 53kg to 50kg was laden with challenges. It required her to adjust her training and nutrition significantly. Additionally, facing the demands of a knee surgery and its recovery process tested her mettle. However, she managed to overcome the physical challenges with sheer willpower and meticulous planning.
Her preparation for the Paris Olympics was marked by strategic moves, including forcing officials to allow her participation in trials across two weight categories. Her success in the trials secured her a spot in the 50kg category. However, the journey was not just about athletic challenges; it was also about addressing misinformation.
Rumors circulated that she had tried to avoid a dope test, which she tackled alongside her Olympic preparation.
Vinesh’s story is an embodiment of grit and determination. Years of experiences, both on and off the mat, culminated in an awe-inspiring Olympic performance. As she stood on the brink of winning a historic medal, her journey serves as an inspiration, reflecting her ability to rise above adversity.
However, months before her journey to the final, Vinesh faced intense challenges, including police detention, backlash from a protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a weight class change and overcoming a knee surgery.
Despite the hurdles, her determination helped her become a history-maker in Paris.
While Vinesh faced a smear campaign aiming to tarnish her reputation during the protest against the former WFI chief, the grappler responded with fierce determination, bolstering her resolve.
As Vinesh focused on qualifying for the Paris Olympics, new obstacles emerged. Transitioning to the 50kg weight class after competing in 53kg for over five years posed a significant challenge. Her preparation involved complicated trial bouts and a knee surgery, following a previous ACL tear at the 2016 Rio Olympics that nearly ended her career.
The wrestler from Haryana faced intense pressure but shifted into high gear. Her journey, fraught with obstacles, led to a historic medal guarantee in Paris, reflecting her resilience and determination.
It’s a definitive response to her detractors in the national federation who criticized her for leading the protest against Brij Bhushan, accused of intimidation and sexual harassment. The police, courts, and government all became involved in the situation, resulting in widespread frustration due to traffic disruptions in Delhi.
During this time, critics doubted her mental clarity, but Vinesh, approaching her 30th birthday, remained steadfast. Her determination and confidence helped her secure a medal in the world’s foremost sporting event, completing her career’s decorated arc.
Her path to the Olympics included trials that required her to compete in two weight categories, securing her spot in 50kg. Weeks later, she qualified for the Olympics in the new weight class despite battling misinformation about evading a dope test. Her journey exemplifies courage and determination, meriting more than mere superlatives.
Recently, Vinesh managed dual battles: on and off the mat.
Her off-field struggles were more daunting than those faced in her village in Balali. The experiences, however, prepared her for competitive challenges. In Paris, she faced Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki, a four-time world Olympic champion who had never lost an international bout.
Vinesh, drawing from her off-field struggles and executing a perfect game plan, stunned Susaki in a major upset.
Following the significant win, Vinesh defeated eighth-seed Oksana Livach of Ukraine, securing her place in the semifinals of the women’s 50kg freestyle event. Overwhelmed with emotion, she lay on the mat with tears of joy.
In the semis, Vinesh triumphed over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, securing her historic medal and becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Her achievements followed years of overcoming various forms of resistance, from societal norms in her village to powerful federation officials.
Her path to success began with challenging the villagers’ belief that wrestling was only for men and dealing with the loss of her father at nine. Her resilience helped her tackle powerful figures within the wrestling federation.
Phogat’s journey in the spotlight began with spearheading a protest that brought her under scrutiny and police action. She fought against the odds with a belief in her righteousness, ultimately prevailing and demonstrating significant fortitude.
The transition from competing in 53kg to 50kg was laden with challenges. It required her to adjust her training and nutrition significantly. Additionally, facing the demands of a knee surgery and its recovery process tested her mettle. However, she managed to overcome the physical challenges with sheer willpower and meticulous planning.
Her preparation for the Paris Olympics was marked by strategic moves, including forcing officials to allow her participation in trials across two weight categories. Her success in the trials secured her a spot in the 50kg category. However, the journey was not just about athletic challenges; it was also about addressing misinformation.
Rumors circulated that she had tried to avoid a dope test, which she tackled alongside her Olympic preparation.
Vinesh’s story is an embodiment of grit and determination. Years of experiences, both on and off the mat, culminated in an awe-inspiring Olympic performance. As she stood on the brink of winning a historic medal, her journey serves as an inspiration, reflecting her ability to rise above adversity.
