It may sound confusing, but it is true that Vinesh Phogat lost and Vinesh Phogat won. On a day when Indian wrestling attempted to regain ground lost in the past year and more, those in charge of the trials heeded her unusual plea to let her fight in two divisions, though the United World Wrestling rules clearly allow a grappler to compete in only one weight category.
The two-time Olympic Games grappler Vinesh became the first wrestler – and more than a few would say dubiously so – to compete in two weight categories in the trials to select the Indian squad to compete in next month’s Asian Wrestling Championships and the Asian Olympic Games qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The 2018 Asian Games champion Vinesh rallied from a 3-6 deficit to beat Shivanee 11-6 in women’s 50kg final. That came a short while after she lost by technical superiority (0-10) to Anju in the 53kg semifinal that lasted less than 20 seconds. It was a result that indicated that Vinesh was happy with being among the top in the 53kg category.
There was no doubt that the focus in NIS Patiala on Monday was on Vinesh just as the spotlight was trained on Bajrang Punia and, to a less extent, Ravi Dahiya at SAI National Centre of Excellence, Sonipat, a day earlier. Vinesh and Punia have been in the forefront of a crusade against some officials of the Wrestling Federation of India.
Unlike Punia who seemed off colour and lost his bouts, Vinesh’s competitive instinct came through. Her decision to double her workload against the rules of the sport was not the only indication of her hunger. The manner in which she quelled Shivanee’s challenge in the climactic bout was also a reflection of her desire to chase her dream of winning an Olympic medal.
Her decision reportedly led to delays in drawing up schedules and made the other wrestlers in the two weight categories raise eyebrows. Her lack of resistance in the 53kg category semifinal against Anju, reflected in the loss by technical superiority, was an indication that her primary focus in this division was only to make it to the last four stage in this competition.
The trials were not as smooth as all wrestlers would have liked. Vinesh decided to compete in two weight categories in the trials. It is a move that does not have known precedent but may have been made because she wanted to be in the race for a 53kg category berth when the trials for the Olympic Games are held at a later date, when Antim Panghal regains fitness.
Truth to tell, the resilience of Anshu Malik in overturning a 2-3 deficit with a last moment throw down to beat Sarita Mor 6-3 in the 57kg final also caught the eye of the goodly crowd watching the trials with more than cursory interest. The other winners in the Olympic weight categories were Anju (53kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg) and Nisha Dahiya (68kg).
On the basis of what transpired on Monday, it appears as if it will take some more effort by all concerned before the cobwebs hampering Indian wrestling are cleared. Some of that can happen if the wrestlers chosen for the Asian Championships and the Asian Olympic Games trials do well and bring the focus back on the sport.
The United World Wrestling sent a clear message that it would accept entries only routed through the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This came after WFI made a submission before the High Court of Delhi that it would withdraw its circular calling for the trials in New Delhi and let the trials be conducted by the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad hoc committee.
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