Dangal was released all the way back in 2016 and was an instant blockbuster reaching unprecedented heights at the Bollywood Box Office. 8 years on, the Phogat sisters are still making India proud, only this time it isn’t Geeta or Babita. Rather it is the second youngest of the six sisters, Vinesh Phogat. The Indian wrestler has had quite the last 7 years which has included innumerable lows and dark times. Finally, the 29-year-old is fulfilling her destiny and writing her own biopic.
At the Rio Olympics 2016, Vinesh Phogat suffered a career-threatening knee injury that would keep her out of action for almost 2 years. But the fight present inside of her was something that an injury would never subdue. Making a comeback in 2018, she quickly established herself as one of the World’s best. Vinesh Phogat entered the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 53kg Weight Class and as the World No. 1 was also seeded first in her weight class.
But no one could’ve prepared her for what was to follow. A shock defeat in the Olympic quarterfinals shattered the confidence of the Indian wrestler to the maximum. The disappointment in Tokyo was followed by the Brij Bhushan scandal which saw Indian Wrestlers protest against the BJP MP and then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President in front of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Vinesh Phogat, alongside fellow wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, led the protest alleging Brij Bhushan Singh of Sexual harassment and Intimidation.
The once-celebrated wrestlers were thrashed by the Indian Police on the streets of Delhi. People started calling them Anti-nationals and started trolling them on Social Media. Despite all of these setbacks, Vinesh Phogat continued working on her game. After suffering another injury to her knee that kept her out of the Asian Games last year, she finally made her comeback in 2024.
A New Dawn for Vinesh Phogat
At the 2024 National Wrestling Championships, Vinesh made an impressive return by clinching the gold medal in the 55kg weight class. She then competed in the 50kg category at the Asian Olympic Games qualifier, where she secured an Olympic quota spot.
In her very first bout at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat claimed a historic comeback victory against the 82-0 unbeaten Japanese wrestler, Yui Sasaki. With just 10 seconds to go in the match, Vinesh Phogat was trailing 2-0 behind the World No.1. She decided to press on the gas and secured the 3 points just in time to win the match.
Following her incredible victory which put the 1, in 82-1, Vinesh Phogat went on to beat former Olympic Bronze medallist Oksana Livach of Ukraine and then Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman to secure India’s first medal in wrestling at the Paris Olympics.
Vinesh Phogat will enter the ring on Wednesday with her head held high, especially after the kind of run she has had up until now. Up against the Haryanvi wrestler will be the American, Sarah Hildebrandt, who will battle it out for the Olympic Gold. The most decisive chapter of Vinesh Phogat’s biopic will be written in Paris and every Indian will be hoping that the last words are along the lines of “Olympic Gold Medallist Vinesh Phogat.”
