Vinesh Phogat is an Indian wrestler who comes from a successful family of wrestlers, with her sister Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari being international wrestlers and Commonwealth Games medalists as well. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win Gold in both Commonwealth and Asian games. Phogat has become the First Indian Athlete to be Nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards to be held on February 18, 2019.
Personal life and family
Vinesh is the daughter of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat's younger brother Rajpal and sister of wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari. Both her cousins have won gold in 55 kg category in Commonwealth Games. In allowing her cousins and herself to pursue competitive wrestling, her father and uncle had to deal with immense pressure and opposition from the community in their village in Haryana. They were adjudged as going against the morals and values of their community. Her cousin, Ritu Phogat, too is an international level wrestler and has won a gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship. On 13 December 2018, she married her long time boyfriend and fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee of Bakhta Khera village of Jind district, who is a two times gold medalist in the national championship. The couple knew each other since 2011 and both work for the Indian Railway where they met and fell in love.
In 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India, Vinesh won the bronze medal in the women's freestyle 52 kg category, winning 3:0 in the bronze medal bout through the repechage round to Tho-Kaew Sriprapa of Thailand. In the first round, Vinesh won 3:1 against Nanami Irie of Japan. She then lost 1:3 in the quarter-finals to Tatyana Amanzhol of Kazakhstan who qualified for the final thus qualifying the Indian grappler for the repechage round.
2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships
In an exclusive tournament held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Vinesh finished second and won the silver medal in the women's freestyle 51 kg category, losing in the final round to Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria.
Vinesh represented India in the women's freestyle 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and won the gold medal. In the quarter-finals, Vinesh faced Rosemary Nweke of Nigeria and beat her 5-0. Her semi-finals opponent was Jasmine Mian of Canada whom she beat 4-1. In the gold medal bout, she faced home favourite Yana Rattigan of England and won the gold medal, beating her 3-1.
At 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Vinesh won the bronze medal in the women's freestyle 48 kg category. In the Round of 16, Vinesh faced Yongmi Pak from the People's Republic of Korea and beat her 3:1. Her quarter-finals opponent was Dauletbike Yakhshimuratova of Uzbekistan whom she overcame easily with a 5:0 scoreline. She lost 1:3 in the semi-finals to Eri Tosaka of Japan but qualified for the bronze medal bout and beat Narangerel Eredenesukh of Mongolia to win 10-0 easily after referee stopped the bout.
Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games and became first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in the Asian Games. Phogat beat Japan's Yuki Irie in Women's 50 kg Freestyle Wrestling gold medal match 6-2.
Vinesh Phogat bagged a maiden World Championship medal in the women's 53kg category after pinning Maria Prevolaraki in the Bronze medal match. She became the first Indian wrestler to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 by virtue of her top six finish. 2020 season In January 2020, Phogat won gold in Rome Ranking Series, defeating Luisa Elizabeth Valverde.
