Vinesh Phogat had missed the mat for a year and a half due to the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and during this time, Antim Panghal earned an Olympic quota in the 53 kg category, a category in which Vinesh had l habit of playing. compete.
Vinesh Phogat is said to have taken some pressure off her shoulders after securing a quota for the Paris Olympics, but the wrestler believes it will be a challenge to maintain her weight after dropping to the 50kg category. Vinesh was recently impressive at the Asian Olympic wrestling qualifiers, ultimately not conceding a single point in her three bouts.
Vinesh, however, had missed playing time for a year and a half due to the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and during this time, Antim Panghal earned an Olympic quota in the 53 kg category, a category in which Vinesh used to compete.
The country’s most successful female wrestler had no choice but to change weight classes to ensure she didn’t miss the bus to the Olympics.
“I’m going to have to manage my weight a lot better. I’m down to 50kg after so long, so I’ll try to maintain that as much as possible. It is not easy for me not to gain weight as my muscle mass is very high,” Vinesh said after winning the 50kg quota for India.
“Thanks to this, I gain weight easily. No matter how physically fit I am, I still gain weight because I have a lot of muscle mass. I just want to control my weight. I have four months left and every day is very important,” she told the official UWW website.
“I changed my weight because I had no options, not out of luck. But I won a quota for my country in the 50 kg category. I’m happy to be able to go to the Olympics. Whether I compete in the 50kg category or the 53kg category will be decided during the trials, but either way, I won a quota for my country.
Vinesh has already experienced heartbreak at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, where she was eliminated early despite being a medal favorite.
She now wants to complete the unfinished business. “I just want to do my best. I have been struggling for 20 years. I just want an Olympic medal. Everyone works for that. »
Vinesh had claimed that she was battling depression and was even struck down by COVID-19 and, add to that the prolonged protests and legal battle against the then WFI chief, the mental pressure was immense.
She always went out and performed in Bishkek. “It was difficult but when you win, everything is worth it. I will say that I will be at peace for four to five days, but my main goal is the Olympic Games. I will try to do what I could not do during the last two Olympic Games. I can do better at these Olympics.
Vinesh rejected the suggestion that it was an easy task for her in Bishkek since strong wrestlers were not part of the competition.
“Competition is competition. It’s not just if China and Japan are competing alongside you that it becomes a competition. Everyone gets strong on the mat.
She is one of India’s most accomplished wrestlers with two world medals and several Asian and Asian Games titles to her credit.
She is now determined to add that missing Olympic medal to her well-stocked trophy cabinet.
“It took so much work and struggle. I’ve been away from the mat for a year and a half. I came back after an operation. A lot of people suggested that I shouldn’t go to the 50kg category because I might re-injure myself.
“But I had no options. It was a do or die situation. I chose the die option.
With PTI inputs
