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
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
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,.
Milestones
Till 2021 July
PHOGAT’S MILESTONES
First Indian woman wrestler to win an Asian Games gold medal (Jakarta 2018)
Second Indian female wrestler after Sakshi Malik and fifth overall wrestler to receive the Khel Ratna (in 2020)
First Indian sportsperson to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards (in 2019)
Personal life
2018: engaged to marry Rathi
From: Sabi Hussain, After historic gold, Vinesh gets engaged at airport on return, August 28, 2018: The Times of India
It was a memorable 24th birthday for Vinesh Phogat. The golden girl of Indian wrestling got engaged to long-time boyfriend Somvir Rathi upon her return from Jakarta, where she became the first Indian woman to win a wrestling gold at the Asian Games.
And she chose a rather unusual venue for the occasion. Vinesh and Somvir — a Greco-Roman wrestler — exchanged rings outside the arrival gates of IGI airport in the presence of their families and friends. The cakecutting ceremony also took place at the airport.
Vinesh was recently at the centre of a controversial news report which linked her romantically to star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. Both had vehemently denied any such hook-up and criticised the report on their respective social media accounts.
Vinesh clarified that the surprise engagement wasn’t an outcome of the controversy. “No, it was nothing like that. For me, that article involving Neeraj didn’t exist. Somvir and I are friends for 7-8 years and the whole country knows about our relationship,” Vinesh told TOI.
Wrestling, personal life separate: Vinesh
Speaking to TOI about her dramatic enagagement at IGI Airport, Vinesh Phogat said, “It was my 24th birthday and both the families wanted to make the celebration big. For the last 4-5 years, it has so been happening that I was losing bouts just before my birthday. This time, after securing the Asiad gold medal, we wanted to celebrate the win in a grand way. Thus this engagement at the airport.”
And what are her marriage plans? “I haven’t thought about it. I am focused on the upcoming world championships in Budapest and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That’s my aim. Nothing can come between me and my wrestling goals. I keep my wrestling and personal lives separate. The whole world will come to know when my marriage date will be announced.”
Somvir, who has won medals at the national level, is currently employed with Railways and posted in Rajasthan. Vinesh won gold in the 50kg division defeating Japan’s Yuki Irie 6-2.
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
As in July 2018
August 18, 2018: The Times of India
Vinesh Phogat (50kg): Gold Coast CWG gold medallist Vinesh achieved the status of India’s No. 1 female grappler, ahead of Rio Games bronze winner Sakshi Malik. For the Asiad, she had been training in Hungary under Woller Akos and recently emerged champion at the Spanish Grand Prix. At the last Asiad, she had won bronze.
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.
Women’s 50kg: gold
Biswajyoti Brahma, August 21, 2018: The Times of India
Vinesh Phogat, from the Haryanvi stable of wrestling sisters of ‘Dangal’ fame, came up with a nearperfect game to clinch a historic gold, the first in for an Indian woman in wrestling in Asian Games. She outclassed Yuki Irie of Japan 8-2 in the 50kg category final.
The 23-year-old took her time to assess her opponent before surprising the Japanese with a swift move to collect four points with a leg-grab 90 seconds into the bout. She then went into a shell, giving no chances to her rival to fight back. Though she conceded two points, including one for passivity in the second round, she had enough in the bank to play it safe till the final whistle. This was her second medal at the Asiad, having won a bronze in Incheon four years ago
The gold medal win was a sort of redemption for Vinesh, who had struggled with injuries ever since breaking her leg during the Rio Olympics 2016. In Rio she had to be stretchered off after the injury during the quarterfinal tie against Sun Yanan of China.
Vinesh accounted for Yanan in the first round itself to start her eventful journey to the top of the podium. “It was difficult for me to come out of the injuries. It was tough, both physically and mentally. But I emerged from this phase stronger,” she said. “There was pressure on me because I had lost against the Chinese three times. Today I had to prove that I am stronger than her and I am happy that I could do that.”
If the match against the Chinese challenger was a little tricky, the Indian had no problems winning her next two bouts, quite effortlessly, to book a final berth.
2019
Three golds till August
Third straight gold for wrestler Vinesh
New Delhi:
Vinesh Phogat has bagged her third consecutive gold in women's 53kg category after winning the Poland Open wrestling tournament in Warsaw. The 24-yearold prevailed 3-2 over local wrestler Roksana in the final. The Indian wrestler had stood atop the podium at Grand Prix of Spain and at the Yasar Dogu International at Istanbul last month.
2021
February: Defeats 2017 world champion V Kaladzinskay, wins gold
Vinesh returns to mat with gold in Kiev:
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday pinned 2017 world champion V Kaladzinskay to grab a gold medal at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial tournament here. Up against the world No. 7 Belarusian, it was not an easy bout for the world No. 3 Indian as the two grapplers kept testing each other with consistent attacks in the seasaw battle.
Mar: Again world’s no.1 in category
March 7, 2021: The Times of India
Vinesh wins gold, reclaims number one rank; Bajrang in final
ROME: Living up to the expectations, star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat grabbed the 53kg gold medal along with world No 1 rank while Bajrang Punia booked his spot in the final of the men's 65kg event at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event.
It was the second gold medal for Vinesh in as many weeks with a dominant win as the 26-year-old World bronze medallist blanked Canada's Diana Mary Helen Weicker 4-0 in the title clash.
Vinesh scored all her points in the first period and held on to her lead in the second to ensure a top-of-the-podium finish.
Vinesh had won a gold medal in Kiev last week and this performance would give her the belief that her preparations for the Tokyo Olympics are on the right track.
The Indian had entered the event as world number three but is back to world number one by jumping 14 points. The Canadian was ranked as low as 40 before the tournament but is now just behind Vinesh at number two.
Vinesh did not concede a single point at this tournament, winning two of her three bouts by pinning her rivals while getting injury walkouts in the other two in the eight-woman field.
Sarita Mor had won a silver in the 57kg on Saturday.
For Bajrang, first up was Selim Kozan, a former cadet world champion from Turkey. The Indian easily crushed him by 7-0 scoreline. Kozan made several attacks, especially from the right, but the Indian defended well.
Bajrang scored off with take down and gut wrench moves.
He faced stiff competition from America's Joseph Christopher Mc Kenna but prevailed 6-3 in the semifinal.
Bajrang seemed to have improved upon his leg defence yet the American thrice got hold of his right leg. Bajrang, though, ensured that Mc Kenna does not take advantage of the grip.
In the fast-paced bout, Bajrang took break with a 4-2 lead, scoring points with a take downs.
The American narrowed the gap to 3-4 late in the second period with a push out but Bajrang sealed the issue with a two-point throw.
He will now face Mongolia's Tulga Tumur Ochir, who prevented an all-Indian final by defeating Rohit 4-0 in the other 65kg semifinal. Rohit will now fight for bronze.
In the 74kg quarterfinal, Narsingh Pancham Yadav began with a comfortable win by technical superiority against Italian Finizio but lost to 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Ernest Buuroughs in the semifinal.
He will also fight for bronze.
June: Gold at Poland Open
Vinesh Phogat takes Poland Open gold
Warsaw: Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat proved that her preparations for the Tokyo Games were on track by winning the 53kg gold at the Poland Open here on Friday, giving herself some crucial ‘mattime’ ahead of the Olympics. It is third title of the season for the 26-year-old Vinesh, who claimed gold medals at the Matteo Pellicone event (March) and Asian Championship (April) earlier.
