Vinesh Phogat Biography: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat is descended from a well-known Phogat wrestling family. Her cousins, Geeta and Babita Phogat, are sisters. Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games (2018) after winning many medals at the Commonwealth Games. She just made history as the first female wrestler from India to win two medals at the World Championships. Let’s take a closer look at wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s biography, accomplishments, and wrestling career.
India’s Golden Wrestling Girl, Vinesh Phogat Biography
At the juvenile age of nine, she began wrestling. It became a way of life for her, coming from a family of famous wrestlers.
She now has her uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat acting as a father figure, mentor, and coach. Her dad was killed over a land dispute. She began exercising alongside her cousins and sister.
In the 2013 Asian and Commonwealth wrestling championships, she took home bronze and silver medals, respectively. 2014 saw her make her wrestling debut, having won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She achieved great popularity and notoriety as a result of this incredible achievement.
She later took home a bronze medal from the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. She was discouraged, as was the country, by a knee injury sustained during the Olympics in Rio. She refused to let obstacles stop her from overcoming them, and in 2018, she made us all proud by taking home a gold medal from the 21st Commonwealth Games. At the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, she took home the gold medal.
Talking about wrestling would be incomplete without mentioning the Phogat sisters. They might be referred to as India’s first wrestling family. Mahavir Singh Phogat has set an example for gender equality and female foeticide in a state notorious for both issues. This example will motivate the entire nation. He transformed wrestling in India by training all four of his daughters and the daughters of his brother. The Aamir Khan film Dangal helped bring this wrestling family’s inspirational story to a wider audience.
The two older sisters, Geeta and Babita, are Commonwealth medalists and have become well-known internationally. They were joined in the Commonwealth feat by their relative Vinesh in 2018. Let’s now take a peek into the life of this young talent from the Phogat clan.
Vinesh Phogat Family
Vinesh was destined for a career in wrestling. He was born in the Indian state of Haryana, in a small hamlet called Balali. She thinks she is destined for greatness in life. She is true. This girl’s life has been anything but typical; she has seen some extremely difficult personal failures. Vinesh has demonstrated her ability to persevere at every turn in her life. Vinesh is a very remarkable wrestler in the making because of his unwavering energy and perseverance.
Her uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat took her and her sister Priyanka under his wing following the assassination of her father, Rajpal Phogat, in a property dispute. For both girls, he served as a coach and a father. With the help of their cousins Geeta, Babita, Ritu, and Sangita, they began their training.
The local patriarchs put up a lot of protests against the family. They were all shunned for defying convention. Mahavir Singh Phogat gallantly carried on teaching all of his daughters despite everything. The world can now see what his perseverance has produced. The village began to see things differently after Babita and Geeta’s triumph. Not only are the locals showing their love and support for the family today, but they are also sending their girls to receive training.
The experiences she had while still a young child influenced Vinesh’s personality. Wrestling became her way of life when she was just 9 years old. Geeta, her elder cousin, provides her with a lot of support. She still makes a point of giving her a call ahead of each competition.
Vinesh Phogat Biography – The Journey
Asian Wrestling Championships – 2013
- In round one, she defeated Japanese fighter Nanami Irie.
- Sadly, she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Tatyana Amanzhol of Kazakhstan.
- Vinesh was allowed to compete in the repechage round while Tatyana Amanzhol advanced to the championship match.
- She went on to upset Thai competitor Tho-Kaew Sriprapa to take bronze in the women’s freestyle 51 kg class.
Commonwealth Wrestling Championships – 2013
- Vinesh competed in the 51 kg freestyle division of the wrestling competition.
- Sadly, she had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye in the finals.
- This silver came at a young age in Vinesh’s wrestling career, but it gave her a lot of confidence and drive to win the gold, which she soon did.
Commonwealth Games 2014: Vinesh Phogat Biography
- Vinesh competed for India in the 48 kg women’s freestyle division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- In the quarterfinals, she defeated Nigeria’s Rosemary Nwerke with great authority.
- She defeated Canadian Jasmine Mian in the semifinals.
- Yana Rattigan of England was the last person standing in the way of the coveted gold. Even though her opponent was the favorite, Vinesh overcame her to take home the gold.
- It was a proud moment for the whole country, not just the Phogat family or the people of Haryana!
Asian Games 2014
- In the top 16 round, Vinesh triumphed over Yongmi Pak of the People’s Republic of Korea.
- Our champion handily defeated Uzbekistan’s Dauletbike Yakhshimuratova in the quarterfinals.
- Eri Tosaka of Japan stopped her journey at that same moment. But Vinesh made it to the bronze medal fight.
- She seized the chance to defeat her rival, Mongolian Narangerel Eredenesukh, and earn a medal.
- With pride, Vinesh Phogat returned home with the bronze in the 48 kg women’s freestyle division.
The Olympics 2016 Heartbreak
- Vinesh defeated Polish player Iwona Matkowska in the Istanbul qualifying competition to earn a spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- The entire country was thrilled to watch their daughter participate in the most renowned athletic event on earth.
- Unfortunately, a potentially fatal knee injury ended her run in the quarterfinals.
- That precise moment broke her goal of winning the first-ever gold medal in wrestling at the Olympics. Her spirit is still strong, though, and she has pledged to deliver the gold to the Olympics.
Commonwealth Games 2018: Vinesh Phogat Biography
- At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Vinesh Phogat took home the gold medal and inspired pride throughout the nation! At the 21st edition of the games, which were held in Gold Coast, Australia, she accomplished this amazing achievement in the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling division.
- After the Nordic format, she topped the rankings.
- Vignesh demonstrated technical prowess and defeated Australia’s Rupinder Kaur and Nigeria’s Miesinnei Genesis.
- Ultimately, she had just one opponent left in her quest for the gold medal. It was Canadian Jessica MacDonald. The wrestler prevailed over her opponent and managed to win the gold.
Vinesh Phogat at the Asian Games 2018
Vinesh went on to win the gold medal in the 50 kg wrestling event at the Asian Games after earning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. As a result, she became the first Indian woman to accomplish the goal.
Vinesh Phogat Biography: 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships
Vinesh defeated China’s Qianyu Pang, who had won the bronze medal at the World Championships, to win the bronze medal in the 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships.
She also defeated Russian Ekaterina Poleshchuk in the 2019 Yasar Dogu International to win gold.
Vinesh at the Poland Open Wrestling Tournament
In the women’s 53 kg division, Vinesh Phogat won her third straight gold medal after taking first place in the 2019 Poland Open wrestling competition in Warsaw. A year later, at the 2021 Poland Open, Vinesh won the gold medal in the women’s 53 kg category once more.
2019 World Wrestling Championships
In the women’s 53 kg division, Vinesh Phogat won her first World Championship medal after overcoming Maria Prevolaraki in the bronze medal match. Vinesh’s top-six finish allowed him to become the first wrestler from India to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial Tournament- 2021
In February 2021, Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the XXIV Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers & Coaches Memorial event in Kyiv, Ukraine, defeating Vanesa Kaladzinskay, the 2017 world champion.
2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event
Vinesh Phogat won this event handily, taking first place in her division and earning the gold medal. Diana Mary Helen Weicker of Canada was defeated by Vinesh, 4-0.
Commonwealth Games 2022
In Birmingham, during the Commonwealth Games in 2022, Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the women’s 53 kg freestyle category. She became victorious in her final group match against Sri Lanka’s Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage.
2022 World Wrestling Championships
In the women’s 53kg division at the World Wrestling Championship 2022 in Belgrade, Vinesh took home the bronze medal. The first female wrestler from India to win two medals at the World Championship was Vinesh Phogat.
Achievements of Vinesh Phogat
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- 2018 Asian Games, Jakarta – Gold
- Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast, Australia – Gold
- 2018 Asian Championships, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Silver
- 2017 Asian Championships, New Delhi, India – Silver
- 2016 Asian Championships, Bangkok, Thailand – Bronze
- 2015 Asian Championships, Doha, Qatar –Silver
- Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow, Scotland – Gold
- Asian Games 2014, Incheon, South Korea – Bronze
- Asian Championships 2013, New Delhi, India – Bronze
Vinesh Phogat and Wrestlers’ Protest
Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, among others, made accusations in January 2023 that WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had been abusing women wrestlers sexually. The wrestlers had asked the Home Minister and the Prime Minister to step in and remove him. However, the objection was retracted following the establishment of an oversight committee to look into the issue. On April 23, though, the protestors resurrected their demonstration after seven female wrestlers—among them a minor—attempted to file a complaint against the organization, but the police declined to file a formal complaint.
But later, the Supreme Court’s ruling allowed the police to file two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the WFI chief. The POCSO Act was used to file the first formal complaint against him for sexual harassment of a child, and the other women wrestlers’ accusations formed the basis for the second FIR.
FAQ
Who is Vinesh Phogat?
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat participates in the freestyle wrestling division. On August 25, 1994, she was born in the Indian state of Haryana’s Balali village.
What are Vinesh Phogat’s major achievements?
Among Vinesh Phogat’s many noteworthy accomplishments are her gold medals from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, her gold medal from the 2018 Asian Games, and her bronze medal from the 2019 World Wrestling Championships. In addition, she earned a bronze medal in the 53 kg division, earning her a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
What is Vinesh Phogat’s wrestling style?
Vinesh Phogat is renowned for her rapid reactions and aggressive style of wrestling. She has a great defense against the attacks of her opponents and specializes in takedowns.
Does Vinesh Phogat come from a wrestling family?
Vinesh Phogat hails from a wrestling family. Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, her cousin sisters, are also skilled wrestlers who have represented India in multiple international tournaments with multiple medals. Mahavir Singh Phogat, Vinesh’s uncle, is a well-known wrestling coach who has coached several athletes in his family.
