As the Olympics came to an end and India welcomed its winners, the athletes who weren’t able to bring a medal back home, despite making all efforts, have expressed their disappointment with the way things turned out and the events that led to them.
Speaking about her future plans and the events that took place on the mat, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat said she isn’t sure if she will return to the sport. A discouraged Ms Phogat blamed it on her performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as she had to exit the game during the quarter-finals.
She was away from the mat for 5 years following a twisted knee episode at the Rio Olympics in 2016. This time, she was the top player in the 53-kg freestyle event. However, she went blank and Belarusian Vanesa Kaladzinskaya clenched onto victory.
The Wrestling Federation of India also accused her of “indiscipline” after her return from Tokyo as she apparently practiced away from the team for 2-3 days. She said she took the step to prevent infections amongst the players.
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While the country is enjoying the fireworkers in celebration of the biggest Olympic medal haul ever, Ms. Phogat said that in India, “you fall as fast as you rise One medal (lost) and everything is finished.”
Reminiscing her days with the injury that left her hungry for the medal in 2016 as well, she said, “I don’t know when I will return (to the mat). Maybe I won’t. I feel I was better off with that broken leg. I had something to correct. Now my body is not broken, but I’m truly broken.”
Before her journey to Tokyo and during her practice sessions to prepare for the sports league, Ms. Phogat had contracted covid-19 twice and had to bear the after-effects of the concussion she had underwent in 2017.
The physio assigned to her earlier worked with the shooting team. Ms. Phogat said she wasn’t able to understand her body and her weight kept reducing. Before the match, she even vomited and wasn’t feeling well. The athlete said she has to undergo tests along with sessions with psychologists.
Ms Phogat has earlier been to the psychologist but did not feel any change, the two-time Commonwealth Games champion said who is fighting mental health issues.
She said India does not speak enough about mental health issues existing within its people yet pats other nationalities for paying heed to theirs, referring to American gymnast Simone Biles. Ms Biles pulled out from the event to concentrate on her mental health. She was applauded for her move.
“We celebrate Simone Biles as she said that I am not mentally prepared to perform at the Olympics and did not do her event. Try just saying that in India. Forget pulling out of wrestling, just try saying that you are not ready,” Ms Phogat said.
