Vinesh Phogat needed to be withdrawn from the 2016 Rio Olympics after having injured her knee in the quarterfinals. Now, she has a second chance at the ultimate prize, as the whole of India’s hopes her to deliver a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In a recent interview given to the India Today group, Vinesh opens up about the expectations that have been levied on her and how she has dealt with all the pressure so far.
Vinesh said that the people around her were so happy that she could make it back to the grand stage after what had transpired at Rio.
“There is hope and everyone is happy that I have qualified for the Olympics for the second time. And everyone’s prayers have made it possible. People have been very supportive since my injury in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Never felt that I have been alienated and that gives me motivation. And that’s the reason that after 4 years, I have still made it to the same level as I was in Rio Olympics. Not just mine but everyone’s dreams were shattered when I was stretchered off the mat mid-way during my quarter-final bout in Rio. I would like to repay people’s prayers with my performance at the Tokyo Olympics.”
No one would have expected such a terrible thing to transpire for Vinesh on arguably the biggest game of her career in 2016.
But since that day, the determination and perseverance she showed is the only reason she stands on the grand stage yet again after four years.
“I never thought that I would recover and reach the Olympics again. I always keep thinking of getting another chance to win an Olympic medal. Even when I would get tired in training, thoughts of my Olympic dream kept me going. I used the frustration of the last Olympics to secure the quota and it was a big weight off my shoulder,” she said.
Vinesh’s cousin and wrestler Geeta Phogat was too in all praise for the efforts and never die attitude the former displayed in the last four years which even saw her win the World Championship in 2019.