Commonwealth and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat earned an Olympic quota in the women’s 50kg category by defeating Kazakhstan’s Laura Ganikyzy 10-0 in the women’s 50kg semifinal at the Asian Olympic qualifiers. Phogat, a Commonwealth and Asian Games champion, won the battle in 4:18 minutes thanks to technical superiority over the Kazakh wrestler. She will now face Aktenge Keunimjaeva of Uzbekistan, who defeated Chinese Taipei’s Meng Hsuan Hsieh 4-2. Vinesh was out of action and was protesting against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh for almost two years. She participated in the trials in two weight categories and won a 50 kg trial to participate in the Asian Olympics qualifications.
Vinesh showcased her prowess in the wrestling arena with a flawless performance in her first match, overwhelming South Korea’s Cheon Miran with a commanding 10-0 victory in the round of 16. Her quarter-final match against Cambodia’s Dit Samnang saw her clinch another swift win, securing victory by fall (VFA) in under a minute. It’s worth noting that Vinesh competed in the 50kg category, which differs from her usual preference of 53kg. Despite this, her exceptional skill shone through.
Although she had previously claimed two bronze medals at the World Championships in the 53kg category, Antim Panghal’s prior qualification in the 50kg division, from her bronze triumph in the 2023 World Championships, led Vinesh to participate in both categories during the National trials on March 11. While she faced defeat in the 53kg category against Railways’ Anju, Vinesh emerged victorious in the 50kg category, defeating Shivani with a score of 11-6.
What adds to Vinesh’s remarkable achievement is the adversity she faced leading up to this success. She endured setbacks in the 2023 season, initially emerging as a prominent figure in the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Subsequently, a knee injury sidelined her from the Asian Games. Furthermore, she missed the Poly k Imre Memorial Ranking Series in Hungary due to illness, battling both fever and food poisoning. Despite these challenges, Vinesh demonstrated her resilience and determination, culminating in her impressive performance on the wrestling mat.