Wrestling, Olympics 2024: Vinesh Phogat’s battles off the mat lead to greater triumphs on it

On Tuesday afternoon at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, Vinesh Phogat lay on the mat after a riveting wrestling match. She had pulled off the biggest upset in the wrestling world, defeating Japan’s undefeated Yui Susaki in the final seconds of their bout.

An hour after taking out the first seeded Japanese at the Paris Olympic Games, she beat eighth seed Oksana Livach of Ukraine to secure a berth in the semi-finals of the women’s 50kg freestyle event.

In a late-night showdown, she triumphed over Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman, a Pan American gold-medalist, with a decisive 5-0 victory, securing her place in her first-ever Olympic final.

Not only is she guaranteed an Olympic medal, but she also has a chance to become the first Indian woman to win Olympic gold.

As she lay on the mat, in her moment of triumph, she ought to have remembered the last few months.

A year ago, Phogat had been wrestled to the floor by the Delhi Police. She was among the leaders of a wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they accused of intimidation and sexual harassment.

The journey from the streets of Delhi to the mat in Paris was riddled with hurdles.

She had to deal with a knee surgery, backlash...

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