Kolkata: Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat could be one of the medal contenders at the Tokyo Olympics. Her performances in some of the most recent tournaments had been outstanding. The 26-year-old had been working extremely hard to win a medal for India in wrestling at the Games.
The 26-year-old could have got an Olympics medal five years back at Rio Olympics but had to bow down to Sun Yanan of China in the quarterfinals owing to a knee injury. With less than a week remaining for the Tokyo Olympics, let’s have a close look at the top five things about her.
Vinesh Phogat hails from a wrestling family
Phogat had grown up watching her entire family wrestle. She is the niece of legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who subjected her to rigorous training at a young age. Geeta and Babita Phogat, her cousins, are also in the same sport. They were exceptional grapplers who also won medals for India at the international level.
Phogat is married to a wrestler
In 2018, she married her long-term boyfriend Somvir Rathee shortly after her Asian Games victory. They exchanged rings outside Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi as Phogat made her way from the airport from the Asian Games.
🤼♀️🇮🇳🎯
🎥:- @wrestling pic.twitter.com/qv5S2j1QfF
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) April 18, 2021
Phogat is a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award recipient
The Government of India recognised Phogat’s achievements on the international stage by awarding her the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honour) in 2020. In 2016, she was also given the Arjuna Award.
What is Phogat’s world ranking?
Her outstanding performances this year had helped her jump 14 points to the top of the world rankings heading into the Olympics. Phogat’s victories in Kazakhstan, Rome, and Poland are promising signs for the Indian contingent, as she is one of the country’s top medal prospects.
Medal number 8 from the Asian Championships in the bag🥇 Preparations heading in the right direction. Great to be competing on the Asian stage again ☺️ Now time to refocus and kick-off another intense phase of training! 💪 pic.twitter.com/1jPApNY3XE
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) April 16, 2021
How many medals has Phogat won in her career?
The Laureus World Sports Awards nominee is one of the world’s most decorated wrestlers in the world and her brilliance continued even after she moved from the 50kg to the 53kg weight category.
Phogat had bagged eight medals from the Asian Championships, including a gold, three silver, and four bronze. She had become India’s first female wrestler to win gold at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
