India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat (Courtesy: @Media_SAI) HIGHLIGHTS Vinesh Phogat won her maiden World Championships medal on Wednesday Vinesh sealed India's Tokyo Olympics quota place in women's 53 kg event I hope what I left in Rio, I will be taking in Tokyo: Vinesh Phogat One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Rio Olympics was India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat being stretchered off the mat midway during her quarter-final bout.
Vinesh, who was touted as one of the brightest medal prospects for India, won her pre-quarterfinal by technical superiority to reach the quarter-final wherein she suffered a knee dislocation.
Cut to 2019, Vinesh Phogat has once again made herself one of the top contenders for an Olympic medal in the country.
On Wednesday in Nur-Sultan, Vinesh Phogat ended her long wait for a World Championships medal, clinching a bronze in her fourth attempt.
A second Commonwealth Games and a historic Asian Games gold were won after the Rio Olympics heartbreak but the World Championships medal has given Vinesh Phogat a lot of joy and confidence ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which is 9 months away.
Vinesh Phogat took the decision of moving up the weight category to 53 kg earlier this year and the young wrestler is happy she was able to make a mark at the highest level at Nur-Sultan.
"I am feeling very happy. This is my first world medal. For 5 years, I have been trying and trying and now I changed my weight category from 50 to 53 and finally, I won this medal and Olympic quota for my country. A very proud moment for me," Vinesh Phogat said after the bronze medal-winning show on Wednesday.
"It's only been 10 months since I changed my weight category. And I am very happy to win this medal. It's a very, very, very happy moment for me.
"I have won my quota for 53 kg for my country. I hope what I left in Rio, I will be taking in Tokyo. I am doing my best to win a gold in Tokyo."
Vinesh became fourth time lucky on Wednesday, winning her maiden World Championships medal in Nur-Sultan after a commanding show in the repechage rounds. Vinesh defeated two-time world bronze medalist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece by fall in the bronze medal bout of 53 kg freestyle event.
Vinesh is only the fifth Indian woman wrestler to win a Worlds medal after Alka Tomar (2006), Geeta Phogat (2012), Babita Phogat (2012) and Pooja Dhanda (2018).
Vinesh Phogat was thrown out of the title race when she lost the pre-quarter-finals to two-time world champion Mayu Mukaida of Japan on Tuesday. However, Mukaida handed Vinesh a lifeline when she stormed into the final of the 53 kg freestyle event in Nur-Sultan.
Vinesh made excellent use of the lifeline by blasting past opponents that came her way in the repechage rounds. She defeated Ukraine's Yuliia Khavaldzhy Blahinya 5-0 in her opening repechage round on Wednesday before coming up with a commanding display against World No. 1 Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt of USA.
Also Read | Vinesh Phogat wins maiden Wrestling World Championships medal Also see:
For sports news , updates, live scores and cricket fixtures , log on to indiatoday.in/sports . Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates. Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment
