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Former world champion Vinesh Phogat has won her opening 53kg Asian Games trial bout.
Vinesh Phogat has competed in multiple weight divisions during her career. (PTI Photo)
Vinesh Phogat made a strong start in her bid to secure a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games, defeating Jyoti 7-1 in her opening bout at the selection trials here on Saturday. Vinesh began cautiously, engaging largely in standing wrestling, but gradually asserted her dominance as the bout progressed.
She opened the scoring with a push-out point on the counter and soon attempted a double-leg attack, though it did not fetch any points. Placed on the activity clock at the start of the second period, Vinesh responded by taking control of the contest.
She converted a right-leg attack into a takedown to move 3-0 ahead. Jyoti then launched a fierce leg attack of her own, but Vinesh used all her strength to thwart the challenge.
Capitalising on a counterattack, Vinesh executed two quick scoring moves to extend her lead to 7-0 before Jyoti got on the board with a push-out point.
Vinesh will next face Nishu, who defeated Riya by fall.
Meanwhile, Antim Panghal needed just 34 seconds to register a winning start, defeating Tannu by technical superiority. Antim quickly locked her opponent in a ‘fitley’ move and rolled Tannu five times to wrap up the bout in emphatic fashion.
Antim and Vinesh are drawn to meet in the final. Before that, however, Vinesh will have to overcome the talented Meenakshi Goyat in the semifinals.
Earlier in the day, the two-time World Championships medallist was allowed to compete in the women’s 53kg category after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) reversed its earlier stand of restricting her participation to the 50kg division.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded during the official weigh-in on Saturday morning when Vinesh was informed that she would be permitted to compete only in the 50kg category, citing her participation in that weight class in her last four international events, including the Paris Olympics.
The wrestler strongly objected to the decision and accused the federation of discriminating against her by denying her the opportunity to compete in a category of her choice.
Sources present at the venue said the matter escalated before WFI president Sanjay Singh intervened and decided to allow Vinesh to enter the 53kg trials as well.
“We allowed her after she threw accusations and asked the officials to take her weight,” WFI President Sanjay Singh told PTI.
“We do not want to discriminate against anyone. She did not inform us of which category she wants to compete and still letting her.”
Vinesh subsequently weighed in at 53.9kg and was accommodated in the 53kg draw.
In a brief interaction with the media while preparing for the trials, Vinesh said, “I am here for at least two years.”
The development marked a significant climbdown by the WFI, which had maintained that Vinesh would be considered only for the 50kg category.
The federation argued that the wrestler had consistently competed in that division in recent international competitions and had not formally informed the WFI about switching categories for the trials.
The issue had already generated considerable controversy after the Delhi High Court directed the WFI to treat Vinesh as an “iconic player” and allow her to participate in the Asian Games selection trials.
Vinesh, however, has competed in multiple weight divisions during her career, including 53kg, and was keen to contest the trials in that category.
The winner of the trials will earn the right to represent India at the Asian Games later this year.
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