Vinesh Phogat: From Leading Wrestlers' Protests To Gunning For Gold - A Champion Already, Always

"A torn ligament. A lower weight category. An unbeaten world champion. Nothing stands in her way" Abhinav Bindra summed up Vinesh Phogat's hurdles aptly, shortly after she became the first Indian woman wrestler to book a final berth at the Olympics. Bindra, India's first-ever gold medallist, though missed mentioning another hurdle. One that saw Vinesh Phogat getting shoved, pushed and dragged on the streets of the National Capital in May last year.

Far from the wrestling mats, Vinesh and her fellow wrestlers including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, were fighting a different battle. Of that of demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Bris Bhushan Sharan Singh. He had been accused by the wrestlers of sexually harassing several female athletes, stirring a nationwide controversy. 

The fight was not easy as the wrestlers stationed themselves at Jantar Mantar. What followed was visuals that moved an entire nation. Police used force to detain the protesting wrestlers prompting top athletes including Neeraj Chopra to voice their support. "I feel saddened to see this. There has to be a better way to deal with this," Neeraj wrote on X. 

The WFI was finally suspended and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh did not stand in the elections though Sanjay Singh, who was elected the new president of the WFI, also met with resistance.  

A torn ligament. A lower weight category. An unbeaten world champion. Nothing stands in her way. Can't wait to cheer @Phogat_Vinesh as she goes for gold. Your resilience and strength inspire us all. What an inspiring day, here's hoping for one more! #Paris2024 #Wrestling... pic.twitter.com/3AZ56wKEEZ

Vinesh Phogat finally returned to the wrestling mat in February