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Injured Vinesh Phogat out of Asian Games, Antim to take her place
The 53kg wrestler, who won gold in the 2018 Asian Games, announced she has suffered a left knee injury and will undergo surgery in Mumbai on Friday.
Vinesh Phogat has pulled out of the Asian Games after suffering a knee injury. The defending 53kg champion disclosed her injury on Tuesday and said she will undergo surgery on Friday. “A couple of days ago on 13th August, I injured my left knee in training. After doing the scans and examinations, the doctor has said that unfortunately surgery is the only option for me to recover,” Phogat said in a statement.
“I will be undergoing surgery on 17th August in Mumbai. It was my dream to retain my Asian Games gold medal for India which I won in 2018 in Jakarta. But unfortunately, this injury has ruled out my participation now,” she said. It also rules her out of the World Championships in Belgrade next month, the selection trials for which are scheduled for August 25 and 26 in Patiala.
“I would like to request all the fans to continue supporting me so that I can make a strong comeback on the mat soon and prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Your support gives me a lot of strength,” the 28-year-old said. With Phogat ruled out, rising star Antim Panghal, who won the Asian Games selection trials in 53kg, will automatically get into the squad for Hangzhou. The junior world champion had petitioned Delhi high court against the decision of the ad-hoc panel running wrestling to hand Phogat direct selection for the Asian Games.
An ad-hoc panel member said they were yet to receive a communication from Phogat. “We also got to know from her statement in the social media; we have not received any letter from her so far. Antim is the reserve player and she will replace her,” he said. Phogat was a key member in the wrestlers’ protest against former federation (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The case is in a Delhi court.
Phogat and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia – he and Sakshi Malik were also leading lights in the protest – were exempted by the ad-hoc panel from the Asiad trials after the wrestlers sought more time to prepare following the long break due to the agitation. The ad-hoc panel’s decision didn’t go well with wrestlers in their weight categories who petitioned the Delhi high court. Their plea was dismissed. The ad-hoc panel didn’t give an exemption to the two wrestlers for the world championships trials, to be held on August 25 and 26.
The worlds, scheduled from September 16-24, is the first of the three qualifiers for the Olympics. The other two qualifying events will take place early next year and Phogat will be hoping to make a return by then. Phogat has not competed since the world championships last September and trained only intermittently since the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar began in January. Phogat wanted to return to the mat in the international ranking series in Budapest last month but pulled out at the last minute due to illness. She was in form last year winning gold in the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the World Championships.
“It’s a big setback for the Indian team because Vinesh is a very experienced wrestler. However, it will be a good opportunity for Antim to compete at the big stage,” said national women's team coach Virender Dahiya. “Vinesh has fought many battles with injury. She is so resilient and has such dedication towards training that I have no doubt she can make a strong comeback,” said Dahiya, who guided her last year when she made a comeback after facing lot of criticism following her Tokyo loss. “Make no mistake, she still has the hunger to win an Olympic medal and that will drive her,” he said.
Why another trial?
National coaches though said holding another trial so close to two major competitions defied logic. They had suggested that if needed a trial can be held among the four semi-finalists for the Asian Games. However, the ad hoc panel has announced full selection trials for the Worlds.
“You have already had one trial for the Asian Games this month. What is the point of holding another in such a short span? The Asian Games and world championships will be back-to-back events. That means our wrestlers will be going through the weight-cut process so many times close to the events. It is inviting injuries before the Games. And there is yet no sign of a national camp, no preparation has started," said a national coach on condition of anonymity.
