Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Vinesh Phogat made her return to competitive wrestling with a strong 7-1 win over Jyoti in the women’s 53kg category at the Asian Games selection trials on May 30. This came just a day after the Supreme Court and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) intervened, allowing her to compete.
The accomplished wrestler had been limited to the 50kg category by the WFI but confidently started her campaign after the federation changed its mind. This change followed intervention from WFI president Sanjay Singh, who supported her entry into the 53kg trials.
In her first match against Jyoti, Vinesh began cautiously and used standing wrestling early on. She earned the first point with a push-out and attempted a double-leg attack, but it did not score. The match shifted at the beginning of the second period when Vinesh was placed on the activity clock, prompting her to increase her intensity.
She turned a right-leg attack into a takedown to go up 3-0, then showcased her defensive skills by stopping a strong leg attack from Jyoti. Taking advantage of the counter, Vinesh executed two quick scoring moves to extend her lead to 7-0 before Jyoti secured a late push-out point to avoid a shutout.
This win sets up a second-round match against Nishu, who advanced after defeating Riya by fall. If the matches proceed as drawn, Vinesh and fellow star wrestler Antim Panghal are on track for a highly anticipated final. However, Vinesh is likely to meet the skilled Meenakshi Goyat in the semifinals first.
