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Vinayak Padmadeo
Tribune News Service
new delhi, september 23
India’s best woman wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, has picked up another injury and will be forced to sit out of the World Championships, to be held in Budapest from October 20 to 28.
Vinesh injured her right elbow while sparring with Pooja Dhanda during practice in Lucknow on Friday. She then flew to Mumbai on Saturday to consult Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who has advised a complete rest for six weeks. Incidentally, Vinesh usually fights in the 50kg category while Pooja usually fights in the 57-58kg category.
Cousin Ritu may replace her
“Her elbow is not in a cast but the doctor has advised her complete rest. There is no way she can take part in the World Championships now,” a source said. “Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has already been made aware of the injury and a replacement will be named shortly.” It is understood that Vinesh’s spot may go to her cousin Ritu Phogat. Originally, Ritu was to fight in the 53kg division at the Worlds. But WFI is of the opinion that Ritu, who shifted to 53kg to accommodate Vinesh, may do well in the lower weight category. Ritu’s slot may go to Pinki, who won a gold medal in the 55kg category at the Yasar Dogu International in July this year. Singh is expected to take a final call on the changes in a day or two.
Crooked luck
Vinesh, a serial medal winner in the 48kg and 50kg weight divisions, had suffered a tragic injury in the quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She injured her knee in the quarterfinal against China’s Sun Yanan and had to be stretchered off the mat. She had to undergo a corrective surgery that kept her out of competition for a year.
Incidentally, Vinesh got her revenge when she outsmarted the Chinese at the Asian Games in Jakarta in August to start her powerful run to win the gold medal in the 50kg category.
She had also won the gold at Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in April. Vinesh had got injured during the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, hurting her neck in training just days ahead of the team’s departure for Gold Coast. However, she recovered well in time to easily win gold.
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