Vinesh Phogat, who was competing for the first time since her heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics final in 2024, said her biggest achievement was returning to elite competition after childbirth.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The competition was in six weight categories but there was no doubt as to where the spotlight was — Mat A at the IGI Stadium, the 53kg draw and Vinesh Phogat, hoping to qualify for the Asian Games later this year.
Vinesh fell short but the drama began much before her semifinal bout late in the evening. She was first handed a copy of the WFI circular that permitted her entry in the 50kg in the early hours of Saturday (May 30, 2026), followed by more than an hour of waiting and protests before finally being allowed to weigh in.
“It was never a fair fight. I had to wait for more than an hour for weigh-in and was allowed only after our lawyers spoke of going to the court again. They put all the strong competitors in my half of the draw. But one loss doesn’t define anyone’s future. I am back after giving birth 10 months ago. I still have the courage and strength and I will work hard and return to the mat,” Vinesh said after her loss to Meenakshi in the semifinals.
The rancour between the federation and Vinesh had already given enough indications of an uneasy truce, mediated by the judiciary. “We are fighting judges, federation, the whole system on one side. The decisions were not fair but when you fight an entire system, you are a winner. I want to be an inspiration for my son. The target now is (the) LA28 (Olympics). I am proud of my fight and with the Delhi HC observations, I am sure they will be forced to make policy changes regarding female wrestlers returning after maternity,” she added.
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Meenakshi, meanwhile, simply shrugged off the win. “If I thought of pressure, I would never be able to compete. I simply blocked everything and only focused on doing the right things,” she said.
Published – May 30, 2026 07:09 pm IST
