Phogat excels both on and off the mat, despite not winning a gold medal. Victories are not always awarded with medals and trophies.
Sports are fundamentally about heartbreaks and heroic victories. 29-year-old wrestler Vinesh Phogat is a prime example of this, as few others have been before her. Phogat went from potentially winning gold in the 50-kg Olympic competition—which would have also been India’s achievement—to being disqualified in the course of a single evening. She overcame the unbeaten Yui Susaki, the world’s best, and was guaranteed an Olympic silver, but she leaves Paris without a medal.
She braved drastic methods including hair cutting, jersey cutting, hours of cycling, sauna time, and even being willing to draw blood in order to drop to below-average weight, but she left the weigh-in area in tears, devastated by the extra 100 grams she had. It was too great a heartbreak; for her and for India, it was the death of a dream. The Indian contingent appealed the disqualification, filing an appeal.
Even if Phogat did not end up with a gold medal, she is still a winner both on and off the wrestling mat, regardless of how the story plays out. Not every victory comes with a medal or a trophy; some, like Phogat’s, are special because of the significance they have in the eyes of the public.
As a small youngster, Phogat, the lesser cousin of the famous Haryana wrestling family, witnessed her father being shot to death outside of her house. She achieved her success at the Asian Games and World Championships for India thanks to her tenacity, determination, and strong sense of purpose.
When Phogat and her colleagues confronted BJP MP and then-chief of the Wrestling Federation of India Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan for sexual harassment last year, it ignited a fire inside of her that spread to the streets of New Delhi. The image of her being pinned down by Delhi cops was a turning point. Despite his threats, she nearly reached the Olympic podium, which is a significant achievement to remember. Phogat has demonstrated effective fighting skills, regardless of the outcome.
Her disqualification from the Paris Olympics raises questions about accountability. Why wasn’t she allowed to compete in her selected 53 kg category during the trials? What did the monitoring crew do that caused her weight to increase after the semi-final? Who should have taken more precautions throughout the process? Although not likely to alter Phogat’s account, the responses are significant. Phogat is a winner and a hero in India, both on and off the mat.
ABHISHEK VERMA
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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