Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Asian Games gold after she defeated Japan's Yuki Irie in the 50 kilogram women's Freestyle final in Jakarta on Monday, 20 August.
The 23-year-old, who sustained a knee injury at the Rio Olympics in 2016, has clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games this year. Phogat expressed that she thought her wrestling career was over when she suffered a freak injury.
When I sustained a knee injury at the Rio Olympics, I thought my wrestling career was over. Then I went to rehab, but I still wasn’t convinced that I could make a comeback. Because I sustained such an injury for the first time. I had seen a lot of wrestlers struggle after such an injury. So I was scared about my career, but I’m the first one to take a risk. Then I decided to make a comeback and a lot of people have helped me succeed in this field today.Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh added she didn’t know she would would become the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, before her gold medal match.
I didn’t know that I would be the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games and nothing like this was going on in my mind as well. I had already won a lot of silvers. I wanted to win a gold at any cost. I watched my opponent’s matches and tried to find out what I need to do to win. I was able to execute my plans. The country’s wishes and my hard work bore fruit.Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh hardly broke a sweat in her semi-final encounter against Daulatbike Yakshimuratova of Uzbekistan, whom she trounced in mere 75 seconds by technical superiority (10-0).
Vinesh had earlier registered a comfortable 11-0 victory over South Korea's Kim Hyungjoo in the quarter-finals, after defeating China's Sun Yanan by technical superiority 8-2 in the 1/8 finals. Phogat had sustained the knee injury at Rio during her bout against Yanan.
(With inputs from IANS)
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