Vinesh Phogat is an Indian freestyle wrestler and a three-time Olympic Champion. She is one of the prides of India, excelling in sports since the beginning of her career. Despite the best efforts by the whole team, Phogat has been disqualified even after winning the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Vinesh Phogat is in the headlines for her recent match at the Paris Olympics 2024. We will find out what has happened so unusual with her!
Athletic Physique
Vinesh Phogat is a prominent Indian wrestler known for her formidable skills and dedication to the sport. Standing at a height of 5 feet 3 inches (or 159 cm) and weighing 50 kg (110 lb), she possesses a powerful yet agile physique, which has been instrumental in her success on the wrestling mat. Her black hair and black eyes add to her distinctive and determined look, reflecting her focus and intensity during competitions.
Early life
Vinesh Phogat was born on August 25, 1994. She comes from a family of renowned wrestlers. Her cousins, Gita and Babita, are well-renowned personalities who have won Gold in the Commonwealth Games for India. Her father Rajpal Phogat is a famous wrestler. His father and uncle saw a dream for themselves to win Gold for their country, but couldn’t fulfill it due to unfavorable circumstances. Thus, they motivated their daughters to become wrestlers and inspire others.
They belong to the village Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. By allowing Vinesh and her cousins to pursue competitive wrestling, her father and uncle faced immense pressure and opposition from their village community. They were blamed for defying local morals and values. But they continued supporting them and now, the efforts are worth mentioning.
Education
Vinesh Phogat was never pressured to get good degrees in education as she was introduced to wrestling at a very early age. She was exposed to the game when her uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat used to train his daughters, Gita and Babita. Hence, she was destined to become a wrestler. But she has a degree from Haryana’s well-renowned and most popular Maharishi Dayanand University.
Early Career
Asian Wrestling Championships (2013)
The Asian Wrestling Championships was held in New Delhi, India in 2013. Vinesh Phogat won the bronze medal in the women’s freestyle 52 kg category. She secured her bronze by winning 3:0 against Tho-Kaew Sriprapa of Thailand in the repechage round.
Before the winning round, Vinesh defeated Nanami Irie of Japan by 3:1 but lost to Tatyana Amanzhol of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals, which placed her in the repechage round.
Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (2013)
This championship was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Vinesh earned a silver medal in the women’s freestyle 51 kg category. Ahead of this, she lost the final to Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria.
Commonwealth Games (2014)
Vinesh Phogat was the Indian icon in the women’s freestyle 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She won the gold medal by defeating Rosemary Nweke of Nigeria 5–0 in the quarter-finals, Jasmine Mian of Canada 4–1 in the semi-finals, and Yana Rattigan of England 3–1 in the final.
Vinesh has played at almost every national and international game held every year. At Rio Olympics 2016, she reached the quarter-finals but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury.
Gold Medal Wins
| Games | Venue | Won Against | Category |
| Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 | Gold Coast | Jessica Macdonald (Canada) | women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling |
| Asian Games 2018 | Jakarta | Yuki Irie (Japan) | Women’s 50 kg freestyle |
| Yasar Dogu International 2019 | Istanbul | Ekaterina Poleshchuk (Russia) | Women’s 53 kg category |
| Poland Open 2019 | Warsaw | Zosana Roksana | Women’s 53 kg category |
| Rome Ranking Series 2020 | Rome | Luisa Elizabeth Valverde | Women’s 53 kg category |
| Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial Tournament 2021 | Kiev | Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (2017 World Champion) | Women’s 53 kg category |
| Poland Open 2021 | Warsaw | Khrystyna Bereza | Women’s 53 kg category |
| Commonwealth Games 2022 | Birmingham, England | Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage Don | Women’s 53 kg category |
Significant Achievements
Vinesh Phogat made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating Japan’s Yuki Irie in the Women’s 50 kg Freestyle Wrestling final. The score was 6–2.
After winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Vinesh Phogat was awarded the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2022. In the Summer Olympics 2024 held in Paris, she won against Sarah Hildebrandt in the 50 kg wrestling women’s category.
Recently, Vinesh became the first woman to enter an Olympic final in 2024. Unfortunately, she has been disqualified from the games due to weight issues.
Also read about Diana Taurasi
Recent Headlines from the Paris Olympics 2024
Vinesh Phogat earned a quota place for India at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by competing at the Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The wrestlers are required to weigh in twice in the morning of the tournament – once in the morning of the preliminary rounds and then on the morning of the finals if participating.
Vinesh successfully weighed 50 Kg on the morning of the preliminary round going to be held on Tuesday (August 6, 2024). She fought for three bouts and refueled herself for the next day, gaining weight, unfortunately. It is said that she needed to lose 2 kilograms overnight to weigh in in the morning correctly. But she weighed 100 grams extra at her second weigh-in on the day of her semi-finals. Eventually, even after winning the match, she is disqualified from the Olympics and will not be playing in the finals for India.
Besides disqualification, Vinesh Phogat made history at the Paris Olympics by defeating reigning gold medalist and three-time World Champion Yui Susaki in the round of 16 in the women’s 50 kg wrestling category. She advanced to the finals, ensuring either a gold or silver medal, thus becoming the first Indian female wrestler to enter an Olympic final.
Married Life
Vinesh Phogat used to work for railways when she met her life partner. The two had roles at Indian railways where they met and fell in love with each other. Somvir Rathee is her long-time boyfriend and belongs to Bakhta Khera Village of Jind district in Haryana, India. He is also a famous wrestler.
The two married each other on 13 December 2018. They do not have kids yet as they are focused on their respective careers in wrestling.
