CWG 2022: Vinesh Phogat's crucial step towards redemption

Her loss evoked a spate of criticism — from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), media, coaches, fans, etc. The federation even suspended her temporarily. Charges flew thick and fast, ranging from Vinesh refusing to stay with the Indian contingent to her not wearing the name of the official sponsor of the Indian team. The wrestler’s Hungarian coach was also accused of misusing government funds. All this made Vinesh think about her wrestling future and she “contemplated retirement” from the sport. She also went on to write an article, stating how her struggles in Tokyo were accentuated due to the absence of her regular physio Poornima Ngomdir, who wasn’t given accreditation for the Tokyo Games by the Indian Olympic Association. Vinesh also admitted to “suffering from depression” in the past. At the selection trials for the 2021 World Championships, Vinesh conceded a match due to “blurred vision and dizziness” - a recurring condition that stemmed from a concussion in 2017 that she had kept hidden for years. A month after the Olympics, Vinesh underwent a surgery on her right elbow. Later she tweeted: “How many times I fall, I will rise again (sic).”

The surgery meant training was out of question for some months. Vinesh took baby steps towards returning to the mat earlier this year in January. Initially, she concentrated on helping out young girl wrestlers at the Sports School in Kharkhoda, Sonepat. Gradually, Vinesh raised the intensity, but still had to skip the trials for the Asian Championships in March. It took time, but training alone, training differently, and making improvement on a weekly basis gave Vinesh the confidence to participate in the Commonwealth Games trials in May. At the trials in Lucknow, there