Revision as of 20:19, 2 March 2018

Graphic courtesy: The Times of India

Vinesh Phogat
Mahaveer’s niece
Weight category: 48 kg;
Gold in Commonwealth Games 2014, Bronze in Asian Games 2014; part of Indian team at Rio Olympics

A profile

The Times of India, May 9, 2015

Third in line among the Phogat sisters, Vinesh wants to be the first Indian woman to bring home an Olympic wrestling medal. The 20-year-old clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games followed by a bronze at the Asian Games in 48kg category. She is the cousin of Geeta and Babita.

Ranked 11th in the world

Sep 13 2016 , Vinesh Phogat -who made an exit in the quarterfinals after a knee injury during the Olympics, climbed up two places to 11th position in the 48kg category in the UWW (United World Wrestling) rankings,.

Performance

2016, an analysis

The Times of IndiaDec 25 2016

VINESH PHOGAT

Vinesh Phogat's consistent performances over the past two years -a gold in Glasgow Commonwealth Games followed by a bronze in the Incheon Asian Games in 2014, had put her among the strong medal contenders. However, unlike Sakshi Malik, she couldn't return home with an Olympic medal from Rio, owing to a knee injury. After a bye in the opening round and a one-sided pre-quarterfinals, Vinesh was leading in the 48kg quarterfinal before luck turned against her.

Midway into the bout, Vinesh dislocated her knee and had to be stretchered out, eventually conceding her bout to China's Sun Yanan, who went on to win the bronze.

2017: Suspension revoked

Sabi Hussain, WFI U-turn: Vinesh Phogat suspension lifted, November 11, 2017: The Times of India

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has done a U-turn on the issue of Vinesh Phogat's suspension. The federation, which had taken a high moral ground while suspending the star woman freestyle wrestler for indiscipline, has revoked her suspension just days ahead of the senior Nationals in Indore. This happened after the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist tendered an unconditional apology for keeping the federation in dark about her injury, it's been reliably learnt.

The lifting of suspension means Vinesh, a cousin of the Phogat sisters of 'Dangal' fame - Geeta and Babita - will be able to take part in Nationals from November 15-18, which was under doubt until recently. She will represent the Railways.

The case of 74kg wrestler Praveen Rana and 66kg Greco-Roman grappler Ravinder Khatri is the same. They had also been suspended by the WFI for indiscipline a couple of months back and will now be able to participate in the Nationals.

However, more than these two, WFI's flip-flop on Vinesh is surprising. When this correspondent had spoken to WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a couple of weeks back, he had categorically stated that Vinesh would not be allowed to participate come what may, as the wrestler was required to be taught a lesson in discipline.

"If she was injured, she should have told us beforehand. Pulling out of an international tournament - Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - at the eleventh hour is not at all acceptable," Singh had then said.

"Not only did we fail to send a wrestler's name as the last-minute replacement, we also lost out on a possible medal opportunity in the 48kg category. Her case has been transferred to our disciplinary committee which will take a call on her future. She has been suspended and wouldn't be allowed to compete in Nationals at any cost," he had added, while also stating that even her participation in the Commonwealth Championships in South Africa in December was uncertain.

But Bhushan has had a sudden change of heart, which leads to a pertinent question: If WFI was to allow a wrestler to return back to competitive fold by withdrawing the disciplinary proceedings against him/her, then what's the point of imposing a suspension in the first place?

2018: Silver at Asian Championships

March 2, 2018: The Times of India

HIGHLIGHTS

Vinesh Phogat lost a close bout on Thursday to settle for a silver medal

Vinesh suffered a 2-3 defeat to China's Chun Lei in the summit clash

India have so far won four medals in the tournament - a silver and three bronze

Vinesh Phogat lost a close bout to settle for a silver medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Vinesh suffered a 2-3 defeat to China's Chun Lei in the summit clash of the women's 50kg freestyle event.

After trailing 0-1 early in the bout, Vinesh came back strongly to score two points, taking the lead. But with less than two minutes left, the Chinese wrestler scored two crucial points with an attacking move to regain the lead, which she defended well till the end.

Another Indian wrestler Sangeeta defeated Jieun Um of Korea to win a bronze medal in the women's 59kg freestyle event.

Vinesh and Sangeeta's medals increased the India's tally so far to four, including two bronze medal in Greco-Roman events. Later in the day, Divya Kakran failed to add another medal in India's kitty as she lost her bronze-medal bout to Meerim Zhumanarova of Kyrgyzstan in the women's 68kg freestyle event.

Vinesh and Sangeeta's medals increased the India's tally so far to four, including two bronze medal in Greco-Roman events. Later in the day, Divya Kakran failed to add another medal in India's kitty as she lost her bronze-medal bout to Meerim Zhumanarova of Kyrgyzstan in the women's 68kg freestyle event.

Earlier, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh assured herself and India a medal by entering the final with a win over Japan's Yuki Irie. The 2014 CWG champion earned the win by taking a bigger point as she locked the score 4-4 with her move. Meanwhile, India's two Greco-Roman wrestlers have already won bronze medals.

Harpreet Singh grabbed bronze in the 82kg when he outclassed Uzbekistan's Khashimbekov 11-3, winning on technical superiority. Rajendra Kumar had won bronze in the 55kg as he beat Uzbekistan's Mirakhmedov after declared winner. He also got victory by points after levelling the score 3-3.

See also

Phogat, family of wrestlers