Vinesh was in depression after the ban, the doctor said-quit wrestling: When she recovered, she got injured but did not quit wrestling, reached the third Olympics…competition today

India’s female wrestler Vinesh Phogat is once again going to start the fight for a medal in the Olympics. But her fight to reach the Olympics started much earlier. Vinesh was banned after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Then Indian Wrestling Federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had said – We had sent a counterfeit coin. Later, the fight between the wrestlers and Brij Bhushan reached the Supreme Court. But Vinesh, who was unhappy with the ban, went into depression due to taunts. When she went to a psychologist, he said that if she did not give up wrestling, the problem could become very big.

Vinesh did not stop, kept wrestling and made it to her third Olympics. Today Vinesh will challenge for the country in the 50kg category. Bhaskar reporter reached Vinesh’s house. Learned what challenges this wrestler faced after Tokyo and how she fought them. Ground report from Vinesh’s house…

Physio was not sent to Tokyo, the kit was not right
Bhaskar reporter spoke to Vinesh’s elder brother Harvinder Phogat. Harvinder said, “In the 2016 Olympics, Vinesh had to exit the pre-quarterfinals due to a serious knee injury. In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Vinesh made a comeback after recovering from the injury, but after that a period of troubles started.”

Vinesh was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics due to an injury.

Harvinder holds the then Wrestling Federation president responsible for these problems. He said, “Vinesh’s physio was not given a visa to go to Tokyo. Vinesh was not comfortable in the kit given by the Wrestling Federation. She wore her sponsor’s kit, but she was prevented from doing so.

In between the tough wrestling matches, Vinesh had to carry all her luggage herself. Due to the extra effort and kit, Vinesh fell ill just before the quarter-finals. Her old injury also resurfaced during practice, but she was not even given a doctor. Due to which she lost.”

Vinesh Phogat could not even reach the semi-final round in Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Photo @vineshphogat Instagram

Vinesh was called a counterfeit coin and was banned
Harvinder said, “When she returned from Tokyo, the Federation President called Vinesh a counterfeit coin and said – you should not have bet on a lame horse. The words of the Federation President broke Vinesh. How can you call a national wrestler a counterfeit coin or a lame horse?

After winning the national championship, Vinesh won the international championship and then made it to the Olympics. It was not right to call a wrestler who won the Asian Games and the World Championship a counterfeit coin. Vinesh had faced many difficulties since childhood, but the heartbreaking words she received even after playing for the country put her into depression.”

In 2018, he suffered a severe head injury
Harvinder said, “When Vinesh went to the doctor to recover from depression, we came to know that she had suffered a severe head injury during practice in 2018. She did not face much trouble then, so we did not take it seriously. The doctor said that Vinesh’s injury came up due to taking too much stress. It took Vinesh 9 months to recover from this shock and injury.”

It took Vinesh Phogat 9 months to recover from injury and depression. Photo @vineshphogat Instagram

Vinesh recovered with the support of her family
Harvinder explains, “Seeing Vinesh’s injury, the doctor advised her to stay away from wrestling and spend more time with the family. The family motivated her and always supported her. With family support, Vinesh recovered, she returned to wrestling and also won the Commonwealth gold.”

Vinesh started wrestling at the age of 6
Harvinder said, “When Karnam Malleswari won the Olympic bronze medal for India in weightlifting in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, our uncle Mahavir Phogat realized that daughters can also win medals for the country. Uncle started wrestling training for me, my sister Priyanka and Vinesh along with Geeta and Babita.”

I was 14-15 years old, both my sisters were 8 and 10 years old. When we started wrestling practice, Vinesh was the youngest, she was only 6 years old. My grandfather used to go to Chandiram Akhara and wrestle, Vinesh also went there and started wrestling.”

Vinesh has been wrestling since the age of 6. Photo @vineshphogat Instagram

Brother quit wrestling after father’s murder
Harvinder said,My father was killed on 18 October 2003. I was in 10th standard. Grandfather had 4 brothers, one of their sons killed him. My father was in Haryana Roadways, after returning from work the killers took him for dinner. During this time he was shot dead during an argument.

I quit wrestling so that my younger sisters are not affected by the loss of my father. I started earning, but could not succeed much. My mother used to get a pension, which was enough to run the household expenses.”

Vinesh won the first medal in 2007
Harvinder said, “In 2007, Vinesh, Priyanka and Ritu won medals in the National Championship. The villagers welcomed the three, then everyone realized that along with Geeta and Babita, Vinesh can also go ahead in wrestling.

Priyanka was shocked by the death of her father and started falling ill. She did not talk to anyone but kept the grief inside and kept falling ill. Priyanka had won medals at the senior level but she had to quit wrestling. Then we decided that we will not let Vinesh face any problems and will focus completely on her.”

Vinesh won her first wrestling national championship medal in 2007. Photo @vineshphogat Instagram

Vinesh used to practice even during illness
Harvinder said, “Vinesh never missed practice, never backed down from working hard. She would practice even when she was sick. She would definitely reach the centre even when she was very sick, even if she did not practice, she never stopped going to the ground.

It is because of focus and discipline that Vinesh reached this level. Tauji always told everyone to come to the ground, we may not have taken him seriously, but Vinesh always listened to him.”

Vinesh won her first wrestling medal at the senior level in the form of an Asian Championship bronze in 2014. Photo @vineshphogat Instagram

Always qualified by giving trials
Harvinder said, “Recently when Vinesh, along with Sakshi and other wrestlers, protested against the federation’s wrongdoings, a lie was spread that Vinesh did not want to give the trials. Whereas Vinesh gave the trials in the qualification event of the Paris Olympics and also secured a quota in the 50kg category.” Vinesh had secured the Olympic quota on April 20 this year.

Vinesh won her third consecutive gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She then also qualified for the Paris Olympics.

Left only 2 competitions due to injury
Harvinder said, “Vinesh has withdrawn from only 2 competitions so far due to injury. After getting injured in the 2016 Rio Olympics, she did not participate in the next Nationals. Then in 2022, the Nationals did not take place due to the Corona epidemic. After this, the Asian Games were to be held. Vinesh did not demand direct entry here either, she just said that she needed some time before the trials to regain fitness after the strike.

Due to opposing the federation, Vinesh had got the support of the public. To end this, the ad hoc committee decided that wrestlers will be sent to play Asian Games without trials. It was God’s grace that Vinesh got injured and she could not participate in the Asian Games. If Vinesh had not been injured, she would have been accused of playing Asian Games without trials. Apart from these, she has participated in all the qualifications.

The family has been dreaming of a medal for 25 years
Harvinder said, “The Phogat family has been dreaming of winning an Olympic medal for 25 years. This dream was not fulfilled in Rio and Tokyo, Vinesh is expected to fulfill the dream in Paris.

The Olympic logo is displayed outside the house as well. The logo was placed so that whenever Vinesh comes home, she remembers what her target is. The fourth generation of the family is also doing wrestling, my daughter Palak started wrestling after getting inspired by Vinesh. Palak has asked for the gift of winning an Olympic medal for the country before Vinesh goes to Paris.