IN PLASTER IN RIO, BASKING IN FLOWER PETALS IN JAKARTA

Vinesh Phogat on Monday created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, brushing aside her rivals with remarkable ease in the 50kg category.

Incidentally, in 2016, a kneeinjury had cut short her Rio Olympics campaign and left her writhing in pain. She was stretchered out of the wrestling arena at the Rio Games and what followed was a long painful period of rehabilitation.

She rued the missed opportunity but decided not to break down and started her journey all over again. As fate would have it, in Jakarta, Vinesh first took on China's Yanan Sun against whom she lost that Rio Olympics bout.

This time, it was a different Phogat on the mat, said media reports. Agile and astute. Not once did she allow the Chinese to attack her legs, lest she got injured again. Phogat just couldn’t afford another injury.

The last one had been traumatic. She beat Yanan, and her next two opponents, all on technical superiority. On her way to the final, Phogat spent less than 15 minutes on the mat, dropping two points only.

"Everything fell in place for me today," said Vinesh after winning the gold. "Injuries are part of an athlete's career. It is difficult both emotionally and physically. But I shrugged off everything. Someone has said an athlete becomes strong after injury and I feel I indeed have become stronger than before," she added.