During Rio Olympics 2016, Vinesh Phogat was stretchered off the mat after she dislocated her knee. But that did not stop her from becoming the first Indian wrestler to qualify for Tokyo 2020; her maiden World Championship medal, a bronze in the 53kg category, sealed her spot. With her focus only on finishing what she left unfinished in Rio, the 25-year-old says that she will not settle for anything less than gold this time.
Q/Does the Phogat surname put you under pressure?
A/As a child, I was not very keen on pursuing wrestling but I was really good at it. But my uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat was very strict and he kept pushing all of us. I never felt any pressure to fit into any template though. I have always tried to set my own standards. I want to be known as a wrestler, not by a name or a movie.
Q/Has the nature of your training changed?
A/ Yes. My coach Wöller Ákos from Hungary recently took me for a high-altitude endurance training in Bulgaria. The training was at the Belmeken High Mountain sports complex, located 2,050m above sea level. Conditions in Bulgaria were tough for me, but it was a valuable experience. High-altitude training is said to increase the number of red blood cells in the body. It is different from how I used to train earlier. Even my diet has changed. I used to eat less before, but now I am made to eat more carbohydrates. My weight is around 56kg now and I will bring it down to 53kg before the Olympics.
Q/What was the lowest point in your life?
A /When I was stretchered off the mat after a knee injury during my quarter-final bout in Rio, I thought I would never be able to compete again. It was what they call a career-threatening injury. The initial few weeks were hard. All I did was cry, sleep and then cry some more. I had worked so hard throughout that year and had multiple wins. And then, just when I was about to reach the pinnacle of my dream, it collapsed like a house of cards. But I learnt a lot about myself during recovery. I learnt a lot about wrestling, too. I developed a crazy love for the sport. Now when I get an injury, I know for a fact that I will get back up soon. Sometimes, I even laugh at small injuries.
Q/Apart from wrestling, what are your future plans?
A/ I want to write an autobiography that would inspire many girls to take up wrestling.