Vinesh Phogat: Five things to know about the Tokyo-bound wrestler 

Vinesh Phogat will be one of the medal contenders for India when she takes to the wrestling mat in the 53kg category in Tokyo 2020, slated to get underway from July 23, 2021.

She qualified for her second consecutive Olympic appearance after defeating World No.1 Sarah Ann Hildebrandt 8-2 in the 53kg category at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships in Nur Sultan.

Hailing from a family of wrestlers, Vinesh has shown consistent growth in her career, and will also look to make it count at the Games.

Let us know more about her ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Natural inclination towards wrestling

Vinesh lost her father, Rajpal, at the age of nine. Since then, she has been looked after by her uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat (a famous wrestler) - father of Geeta and Babita (also wrestlers who represented India) - and had a natural inclination to take up wrestling.

It was after 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi where Geeta bagged a 55kg gold and Babita clinched silver in 51kg that her will to take up the discipline became stronger and she went on to win a silver at the Youth Wrestling Championship in 2013.

Geeta Phogat guided her to maiden CWG triumph

It was with the help of her elder sister Geeta Phogat that Vinesh won gold at the 48 kg category in 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Interestingly, Vinesh's opponents earlier in her career.

“I was thinking that Geeta didi would give me some encouragement. It is my first Commonwealth Games and I was quite nervous. But all that Geeta didi told me was gold leke aa jaana nahi toh bahut maar padegi (win the gold medal, else you will get thrashed),” Vinesh told the Indian Express.

“I had prepared quite well when I got to Glasgow. Every night I had been studying the style and techniques of a lot of wrestlers in my pool. Geeta didi has also fought against a few of these girls and her tips on how to tackle the Canadian (Jasmine Mian) were crucial,” she added.

Adjusted weight category after Rio Olympics setback

Vinesh was stretchered out of the Rio 2016 Olympics 48kg quarter-final bout against Sun Yanan of China after she twisted her knee and suffered a serious injury in the process.

It was since then that she moved up to 53 kg category and has been training under coach Woller Akos. Her technique has also improved significantly after being groomed by the Belgian.

"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. After I began working with my coach, I have begun using my hands better and I'm not in a hurry now," Vinesh told ESPN.

"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," she added.

First Indian female wrestler to bag Asian Games gold

Vinesh continued to grow in stature and she became the first Indian female wrestler to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2018.

In fact, she stamped her authority in the 50 kg freestyle category at the continental event, by not losing a point in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

She would then face 2018 Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin champion Yuki Ire from Japan in the final. And although the stakes were high in the summit clash, Vinesh dominated the proceedings to overpower her opponent 6-2.

First Indian to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards

Vinesh Phogat is the first Indian athlete to be nominated for the prestigious Laureus Sports Award in 2019. She was nominated under ‘Comeback of the Year’ category after she shrugged off an injury to clinch gold at Jakarta Asian Games and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Incidentally, one of the other athletes nominated under the same category was world famous golfer Tiger Woods.

“It's a matter of great pride for me to be nominated for such a prestigious award. I feel very proud to be nominated among all time greats," Vinesh told IANS.