After helping improve facilities for wrestlers and regaining her uncurbed enthusiasm, unstoppable Vinesh Phogat wins Nationals crown | Sport-others News

It was a near-perfect return to competition for Vinesh Phogat after being away from wrestling for a year-and-a-half because of being involved in protests and a knee injury. The 29-year-old making a comeback after a knee surgery in August didn’t concede a single point in the 55kg rounds, displayed strong defense against Haryana’s Tamanna in the quarterfinal and won fall against Madhya Pradesh’s Jyoti in the final in just two minutes.
This might be a non-Olympic category, and she will have to face tougher opponents if she eventually qualifies for the Olympics in the 53kg category, but Sunday was about spending time on the mat and going through rounds of a competition. Vinesh, competing for RSPB, said she put in 50 percent effort because she was being cautious.
“I am returning after an operation so there was a little fear. It was like a test for me. I am feeling good. I am on the right track. This is an Olympic year, hopefully I will stay fit and healthy and give my best for my country. Wrestling ko phir se jee rahe hai. (I am enjoying wrestling again),” Vinesh said.
After the 55kg medal ceremony, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh, two of the prominent wrestlers in the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing charges of sexual harassment, posed together for photos. Their beaming smiles said how much they valued the moment.After winning gold in the 59kg final, one of the first people Anshu Malik went up to was Vinesh.
Vinesh later spoke about the joy that comes with seeing wrestlers win medals after a difficult phase for the sport.
“Many senior athletes were injured. They were not on track. They are coming back on track now. Ravi (Dahiya) also competed (France Grand Prix) and has done well. I have won here, Anshu has won here. We want wrestlers to walk with us shoulder-to-shoulder. The bigger team we have in the Olympics, the better it is,” Vinesh said.

क्या लिखूं कुछ समझ नहीं आ रहा । आप लोग ही बता दीजिए। congratulations @Phogat_Vinesh 🥇🎉 pic.twitter.com/3EiIUGaV4T
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) February 4, 2024
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After the surgery in August, Vinesh returned to the mat in December, according to former Greco Roman wrestler Somvir Rathee, her husband. The rehabilitation phase, when she also had one eye on the controversial Wrestling Federation of India elections, was a difficult period. She also returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna award in protest after Sanjay Singh, a loyal of Brij Bhushan, was elected WFI president. The nationals gave her an opportunity to return to what she loves doing though she was a touch apprehensive of how it would pan out because she had a short time window to train. The 53kg Olympic weight category is the one she will have to compete in to have a chance to make it to Paris.
“I have finished the competition with a win at the start of the year which is a positive sign. Now I will increase my training. I think in the next competition, I will play more freely. The doubts are over and we will just have to see how the body reacts after this competition,” Vinesh added.
A personal coach is also set to join her support staff. “My coach is coming. Let’s see what planning will be done. Support staff is with me. There are so many people working behind the scenes.”
Wrestlers at the ongoing nationals were better off than when they had participated in previous editions, the two time world championship medal said.
“This is the first senior nationals where I am feeling so happy after competing. Earlier junior wrestlers would not get access to water, food. As a senior athlete, we would still manage but I felt bad seeing the plight of juniors earlier. But this time I am happy to see that everyone is getting good food, good place to stay. Wrestlers are competing without any pressure. Kisi ka dabdaba nahi hai yahan pe. (No one is unfairly dominating here).”