Vinesh Phogat: From Delhi’s Wrestling Protests to Olympic Glory in Paris 2024, Vinesh Phogat 18 month journey

Tracing the Turbulent Path: Vinesh Phogat’s Journey from January 2023 to Paris 2024

January 2023

On January 18, 2023, Vinesh Phogat, along with Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and several other wrestlers, gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest against the then WFI president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual abuse and intimidation. They called for his resignation and the dissolution of the WFI. The protest ended on January 21 after the wrestlers met with the then Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur, who assured them that an Oversight Committee would be established to investigate the allegations

April 2023

Following the submission of the Oversight Committee’s report to the Sports Ministry, the WFI announced that elections would be held in May. This development caused Vinesh to put her plans to train in Sweden for the Asian Games and World Championships on hold. However, on April 23, the wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar to resume their protest

May 2023

On the day of the new Parliament’s inauguration, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and other protesting wrestlers were detained by the Delhi Police after they began a march toward the building. Two days later, the wrestlers traveled to Haridwar, intending to immerse their medals in the river Ganga

June 2023

The wrestlers agreed to suspend their protest after the government assured them that the police investigation into Brij Bhushan would be completed and the pending election would be conducted by June 30. “Our fight for justice will continue, but it will now be in court, not on the streets,” said the wrestler

August 2023

Photo Credit – X(Twitter)

Vinesh, who had been granted direct entry to the Asian Games, sustained a knee injury during training and will be unable to compete in the event in Hangzhou. The ad-hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Association exempted Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia (65kg) and world medalist Vinesh (53kg) from participating in the Asian Games trials.

Meanwhile, Brij Bhushan and Vinesh have been blaming each other for the suspension of the national federation by United World Wrestling (UWW) due to the failure to hold elections within 45 days

December 2023

After Sanjay Singh, a member of the faction supporting Brij Bhushan, was elected as the new president of the WFI, Vinesh Phogat and her fellow wrestlers protested the outcome. In response, Sakshi Malik announced her retirement, while Vinesh and Bajrang Punia returned their Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards to the government

February 2024

The UWW lifted the provisional suspension of the WFI but required the Federation to ensure that no discriminatory actions would be taken against Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, or Vinesh Phogat. Things began to improve for Vinesh as she won gold in the 55kg category at the nationals, marking her return to competitive wrestling after nearly 16 months.

March 2024

In a unique turn of events, Vinesh competed in two Olympic weight categories, 50kg and 53kg, on the same day during the selection trials for the Asian Wrestling Championships and the Asian Olympic Games qualifier. She emerged victorious in the lighter division

April 2024

Vinesh secured her Paris Olympics quota in the women’s 50kg category by reaching the final at the Asian Olympic qualifier, where she defeated Laura Ganikyzy in the semifinal. The WFI announced that they would not hold additional Olympic trials; instead, wrestlers who had already secured quotas would compete in Paris

August 2024

Photo Credit – X(Twitter)

The Indian grappler stunned reigning Olympic and four-time World Champion Yui Susaki of Japan with a 3-2 victory to qualify for the quarterfinals. She then defeated Oksana Livach of Ukraine to reach the Olympic semifinal for the first time. Vinesh further secured a 5-0 win over Lopez Guzman of Cuba, guaranteeing a medal for India