It was not even an international competition. Rather, it was just the wrestling trials for the Asian Games, and yet the interest generated was greater than that surrounding even the Olympics. And it was all because of one person – Vinesh Phogat.
Whether we accept it or not, Vinesh is now the biggest blockbuster in Indian wrestling. Win or lose, she is the story. The media follows her every word, tracks her every bout and documents her every move. A day before the IPL final, Vinesh was the headline story, and that is an indication of how important she has become within the Indian sporting ecosystem.
Many will say she should not have been allowed to participate because others had climbed the rungs to earn their place. I am not going into whether that is fair or unfair. What is undeniable, however, is that she was able to do what she did within months of becoming a mother, after having stepped away from wrestling for months and entered politics. She had seemingly disappeared from the wrestling landscape and yet, yesterday, almost managed to take Meenakshi Goyat down in the semi-final.
That is blockbuster material, and that is where Vinesh is different. She has the star power to elevate a domestic trial into a national media obsession, and her constant tussle with the WFI has become an edge-of-the-seat thriller. To think she was on maternity leave just a few months ago and is now saying she will not give up and will come back to fight it out gives her a larger-than-life persona that Sanjay Singh and the WFI will find difficult to contend with.
One of my colleagues, Abhishek Mishra, who was there to cover the trials, said to me that Vinesh is still the standout wrestler in her category when she is at her best. That is the key point. Vinesh still has the game. She knows it, and it could all become very interesting ahead of the LA28 Olympics. Having known her for years, I do not believe she is going to back down.
She knows there is intense media attention, and she has now received the support of both the High Court and the Supreme Court. There is protection, and every arbitrary move by the WFI will be monitored and discussed. All of this empowers Vinesh and gives her the confidence to say that she will be back.
Accept it or not, wrestling remains a deeply patriarchal sport. It is male-dominated and controlled by people with considerable power and equally large egos. That is where Vinesh has made a dent. She has courage and character. Combined with serious talent, she represents a challenge to everything the WFI can throw at her. That is what has added to the drama and made the sport more media-savvy and attractive. To compete with the IPL and trend on social media is no mean feat, and Vinesh – and only Vinesh – made it possible.
Can she go on and make it back into the national squad? While no one can say anything with certainty, the truth is that if there is anyone who is mentally already back, it is Vinesh. Her mental strength will enable her to push the limits, and that is why I would bet in her favour. The story clearly is not over yet.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
The post Why Vinesh Phogat Remains the Biggest Headline in Indian Wrestling appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
