How controlled aggression and technological help elevated Vinesh Phogat’s game

There was a time when dominating an opponent and attack-at-all-cost was what drove Vinesh Phogat. But the ace Indian wrestler, older and wiser with age, has started to understand how technology can help her prepare for the bout and put up better performances.

She will be a more complete wrestler going into her second Olympics at Tokyo 2020.

"Earlier, I would consider it a sign of weakness to study games of opponents. I would attack relentlessly during matches, even if I was losing,” Phogat said during an interaction arranged by the Sports Authority of India in April 2021.

After winning the Asian Games gold medal in Jakarta in 2018, Phogat decided to move up from the 50kg to 53kg weight category. Phogat credits her quick ascent to World No. 1 to Belgian coach Woller Akos, with whom she has been training since she moved up weight categories.

“After I began working with my coach, I have begun using my hands better and I'm not in a hurry now,” she said.

“Earlier I was a front-on wrestler but now I do a lot of movement and I'm smoother and cleaner in technique. I time my attacks well now. There is a strategy in place for every single rival. We study games of all my opponents on Saturdays and pre bout, not just the big names. I never used to do any of these things earlier. I now realise it makes a big difference.”

With Akos monitoring everything closely, Phogat has also put in a lot of work in the gym to strengthen her upper body and match up to the athletes in the higher weight category.

"I have focused on my upper body a lot, both in the gym as well as on the mat. I am also watching videos of wrestlers I have not yet competed against. This homework is being done everyday,” she had told Indian news agency PTI in 2019.

“Earlier, we used to train very hard throughout the year but now we have realised that rest is equally important. So If I feel tired, we make the second training session light. If I continue to push, there will be a chance of injury and a tired body, not able to take training load, is more prone to injuries. It's smart now.

“I am trying to add variations. I don't want to depend on two or three pet moves. I am simulating situations I have not been in, and trying to look for an opportunity to score points in that situation.”

Even though the competition is stiffer in the 53kg class, the Indian has finished on the podium in all the 11 tournaments she has competed in so far. Since the start of 2021, she has won three gold medals in a row: at the Matteo Pellicone tournament, the Asian Championships and the Poland Open. And the wrestler believes she’s yet to hit her peak.

When will Vinesh Phogat be seen in action?

Vinesh Phogat will begin her Tokyo 2020 campaign on August 5 in the women's 53kg freestyle event.