New Delhi: Troubles did not seem to end for Vinesh Phogat, who left the trials for the World Wrestling Championship midway, while her cousin Sangeeta (62kg) made a stellar return to the Indian team after three years. Vinesh, who faced suspension from the Wrestling Federation of India earlier this month for disciplinary reasons, was later let off with a warning. All eyes were on her in the trial but she looked weak from the beginning.
India’s most successful female wrestler Vinesh defeated Anju in the first match of the 55 kg category but she did not appear in the form. After this, she did not even land on the mat against Pinky, due to which Pinky got a place in the team in the championship to be held from October 2 to 10.
Vinesh said, “I don’t know what has happened to me. Didn’t hurt but I was feeling dizzy. My body is not the same as before. I am showing the doctor. Perhaps the corona infection has had an effect on the body.
Vinesh had earlier also said that she could not understand anything in the Tokyo Olympics quarter-finals. She was smiling but could not hide her disappointment. Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia’s wife Sangeeta came on the mat after two knee operations and registered a resounding victory. She defeated Junior World Championship silver medalist Sanju Devi on technical superiority and then beat Manisha by 9.5. Bajrang was standing in the coach corner during the match. Sangeeta missed the 2018 World Championships due to a knee operation. Then in 2019, he also had an operation on his left knee.
Sangeeta said, “My father (Mahavir Phogat) taught me wrestling and now Bajrang continues to inspire and give advice.” In the same 62kg category, Manisha defeated Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik. The performance of the junior wrestlers was commendable. After beating senior national champion Pankaj by 8.3, Shubham Kaushik defeated Arun of Railways by 8.4 in the 57kg trial. Yash Tushir defeated Amit Dhankar in the 74kg final. On the other hand, Gaurav Baliyan defeated Narsingh Yadav.
Prithviraj Patil qualified in 92kg and Anirudh Gulia in 125kg. Ravinder Dahiya (61kg), Rohit (65kg), Sushil (70kg), Sandeep Mann (86kg), and Satyawart Kadian (97kg) also won. In the women’s section, Anshu Malik defeated Mansi and Lalita in the 57 kg category to make it to the team. Sarita Mor (59kg), Divya Kakran (72kg), Hainey (50kg), Pooja Jat (53kg), Bhateri (65kg), Ritu Malik (68kg), and Kiran (76kg) also qualified.
In the Greco-Roman category, Sandeep (55kg), Gyanendra (60kg), Gaurav Duhan (67kg), Sajan (77kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Ravi (97kg) and Naveen Kumar (130kg) won the Indian Got a place in the team. The WFI decided to reschedule the trials in four categories (men’s freestyle 92 kg, Greco-Roman 63 kg and 82 kg and women’s 76 kg) as only one wrestler reached these classes.
