Jun 03, 2026 16:09 pm IST

Ringside View | It's Vinesh Phogat vs The Will Of The Universe

Before leaving the mat, however, the big V made a declaration: "I will return to this very mat again."

Rica Roy Rica Roy Sports Editor, NDTV 24x7

Rica Roy Sports Editor, NDTV 24x7

While Virat Kohli's evolution and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's win have been a major storyline of the week, the other big V who has dominated the consciousness of the sports-loving public is Vinesh Phogat - a mother, an Asian medallist, a wrestler par excellence, and above all, a fighter. I decided to call this essay Vinesh Phogat vs. the Will of the Universe because it almost seemed as though it required the conspiracy of the system, or the universe of Indian wrestling itself, to keep her off the mat.

After going back and forth with the courts-first the High Court and then the Supreme Court-Vinesh Phogat arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday at around 6:45 a.m., having travelled 112 km from Julana in Haryana, leaving her one-year-old son behind.

Mental fortitude is a magnificent commodity that defines both Vinesh Phogat and Virat Kohli. It takes a rare kind of mental strength to become a champion despite the system, and not because of it.

When she arrived in the morning, WFI officials told Vinesh that she had previously competed in the 50 kg category before taking a break after the Paris Olympics to become a mother. However, Vinesh had already secured a court order allowing her to participate in the 53 kg trials. A squabble followed between her and the WFI officials. That was the first setback.

Round 1 went to Vinesh that morning as she was finally allowed to weigh in. Under intense scrutiny from WFI officials and the gaze of cameras, every sinew of her body appeared to be judged. She weighed within the approved limit at 53.9 kg.

The wait that followed was excruciating amid the heat and dust of the IG Stadium. TV cameras captured every move, including her support staff braiding her hair and making her "battle ready."

Vinesh Phogat, the gold medallist from the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, fully expected obstacles from the Wrestling Federation of India.

The wrestling ace complained that even the draw for the trials was not conducted fairly. She had to face one top-level wrestler after another. Before her first bout, she did not even appear to have a sparring partner. Amid the crowd of wrestlers and media personnel, she trained alone while cameras remained fixed........

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