VINESH PULLS OUT MIDWAY INTO TRIALS FOR WORLD C’SHIPS

NEW DELHI: There was no end to Vinesh Phogat’s woes as the wrestler withdrew midway from the World Championship trials even as her cousin Sangeeta (62kg) made a stupendous comeback after three years by sealing her spot in the Indian team, here on Tuesday.

All eyes were on Vinesh, who was suspended by WFI earlier this month for indiscipline before being let off with a warning, but she looked vulnerable from the beginning. Vinesh, one of the most successful woman wrestlers in India, was far from her dominant self in her 10-5 win in the opening bout against Anju in the 55kg category and did not take mat against Pinki, who eventually sealed her place for the Championships, scheduled to be held from October 2October 10.

Anju employed the same head-lock technique that Belarus’s Vanesa had applied against Vinesh in the Tokyo Olympics, never allowing the Asian champion play her game. Much to everyone’s surprise, Vinesh did not take mat in the next round.

“I don’t know what happened to me. It’s not injury. I felt dizzy,” Vinesh said, sitting in the practice arena. Vinesh had said she went blank in her Olympic quarterfinal and even struggled to complete a take down move.

She was still smiling but could not hide her disappointment.

“My body is not the same. I am consulting a doctor for this. Maybe the Covid infection has affected my body,” she said.

Sangeeta returned to the mat after two knee surgeries and surprised herself with confident victories.

She beat junior world championship silver medallist Sanju Devi by technical superiority and then overcame Manisha 9-5 in the 62kg final.

The trials opened with confusion when WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh announced that only those who submit a copy of their contracts with private sponsors will be allowed to compete. Soon, it was announced that wrestlers who did not have a copy of their contracts can give an undertaking that they will submit it later.