It has been over a year since ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat stepped on the mat. But since then a lot has changed. After she last competed at the World Championships 2022, where she won a bronze medal, she isn’t perhaps the best wrestler in the women’s 53 kg category with Antim Panghal taking over, and she has undergone injuries as well.
Then of course, there was months of protest against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment. Now, with the Paris 2024 Games a few months away, the focus is only on the mat. Talking to the Hindustan Times, the 29-year-old said, “I can’t tell you how much I have longed to return to the mat. For one-and-a-half years, I used to feel so anxious seeing others competing. I am so happy that finally I will be able to come back. I started training in December,” she said.
Tough Road Ahead for Vinesh
“I am nervous because I will compete after long time. I will fight in 55kg because I am reducing weight after a long gap; I don’t want to cut too much weight when I’m coming back after surgery. I want to get some exposure and then shift to Olympic weight for bigger competitions like Asian Championships. It is tough to re-start but when I get into the competition mode, I know I will be alright.”
Meanwhile, Antim has already bagged a quota in her regular weight category, that makes it all the more difficult for Vinesh. In short, she will have to undergo trials to prove her worth, and go to the Olympics.
“Everything about selection, competitions should be clear. Wrestlers should not suffer. The timing of selection trials, the competitions to participate — all these things should be announced. Only then a wrestler can decide how to prepare and which tournaments to play,” said Vinesh.
“I am excited to see so many wrestlers participating here. Railways are good at organising sports events. I am happy to see that the nationals has an international tournament feel,” she said.
Talking about the WFI, she minced no words and said, “I would like to believe that this is a new start in wrestling but there are still so many things going on. They are creating obstacles. Brij Bhushan’s side also held a nationals. State units are not being allowed to send their teams here. They are putting pressure on athletes. These are big issues.”
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“If you are playing in two back-to-back tournaments, there are more chances of injury. This is an important year and Olympics comes once in four years. But they are trying to create problems — dabdabe wali baat ho rahi hai abhi bhi (dominance is still happening).
“Government should take note of this and issue clear directions to avoid confusion like what happened with the announcement of two nationals.”
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