Vinesh Phogat
Introduction:
Vinesh Phogat is a woman, a survivor, a fighter, and an inspiration for all young girls out there. She has broken down barriers and made history for India, making her country proud. Despite facing numerous challenges and battles in life, she continues to fight back and win. Phogat was born on August 25, 1994, in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, India. She grew up in a household full of wrestlers—her sister Priyanka Phogat and her cousins Geeta, Ritu, and Babita are all well-known wrestlers. She was trained by her uncle, Mahavir Singh Phogat. During this time, her father and uncle faced significant backlash in their community because of their decision to let women play such an aggressive sport. They went against societal norms and emerged victorious.
Backstory:
As one of the finest wrestlers to emerge from India, Vinesh Phogat was introduced to sports at a young age. She faced opposition from villagers who considered wrestling a manly sport and from a community that believed women should be confined to the home. At the age of nine, Phogat had to cope with her father's death. In an interview, Phogat shared that her father would tell her, "One day, he would see his daughter fly high in a plane while he would drive." When her father passed away, those words became her driving force. A few months later, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. This marked the beginning of her journey, where she lost her childhood to support her mother. She had to give up on her dreams of long hair and a phone, face reality, and live to survive.
Titles:
Phogat won a Gold Medal at the 2018 Asian Games, making history as the first Indian woman wrestler to secure a gold medal at the Asian Games. The same year, she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, showcasing her versatility and competitiveness. Phogat won bronze at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships, solidifying her status as one of the world's top wrestlers. She has also won gold at the Commonwealth Games thrice, in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Vinesh Phogat's success and dedication to the sport have made her an inspiring role model for female wrestlers in India. Her story of breaking tradition and overcoming barriers inspires young girls to follow their dreams and never give up.
Injuries:
During her Olympic debut in Rio 2016, Phogat suffered a severe injury in the quarterfinals when her opponent, Sun Yanan, unintentionally fell on her leg. She was carried off the mat and forced to withdraw due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in her right knee, which required surgery. After surgery, it took five months of rehabilitation before she returned to training. In 2021, while competing in the national trial to pick the wrestling team for the World Championships, she pulled out halfway through and underwent elbow surgery a few days later. While preparing for the Asian Games, Phogat injured her left leg during a training session. It turned out to be a complete ACL tear and a partial lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear, requiring yet another surgery and rehabilitation, forcing her to miss the Asian Games.
Conclusion
Vinesh Phogat participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics and made it all the way to the finals, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat. Unfortunately, she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight. Had this not happened, it could have been a historic and the most significant win of her career. Despite this setback, Vinesh Phogat's journey inspires millions, showing that resilience, determination, and the will to fight against all odds are what truly defines a champion.
Works Cited
"Vinesh Phogat." Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/vinesh-phogat. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.
"Vinesh Phogat." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinesh_Phogat. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.
"Vinesh Phogat and the Comebacks after ACL Injuries, Elbow Surgeries, and Chasing an Olympic Medal at Paris 2024." The Indian Express, 14 Aug. 2023. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/vinesh-phogat-comebacks-acl-injuries-elbow-surgeries-olympic-medal-paris-2024-9499445/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.
"Vinesh Phogat Biography." Balasore Municipality. https://balasoremunicipality.in/vinesh-phogat-biography/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.
"Vinesh Phogat's Letter: 'How Can India Let down One of Its Wrestlers Preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics?'" Olympics.com, International Olympic Committee, 20 July 2023. https://olympics.com/en/news/vinesh-phogat-letter-india-wrestling-paris-2024-olympics-reaction. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.