Vinesh Phogat competed in the 50kg weight category at the Paris Olympics 2024. Normally, her weight is around 55-56kg, and she has mostly wrestled in the 53kg category throughout her career. Despite being comfortable in the 53kg category, why did she choose to compete in the 50kg category at the Olympics? Here’s what happened.

What Happened During the Olympic Trials?

On March 12, 2024, wrestling trials took place at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. Vinesh participated in trials for both the 53kg and 50kg categories. She won in the 50kg category but was in the top 4 in the 53kg category.

Being in the top 4 in the 53kg category did not mean Vinesh couldn’t qualify for the Olympics. The rules state that wrestlers in the top 4 must compete against each other, and the best performer gets the Olympic spot. So, Vinesh could have competed in the 53kg category, but the unclear rules may have created confusion for her.

Why Didn’t Vinesh Choose 53kg?

Vinesh Phogat won a bronze medal at the 2023 Wrestling World Championship. However, winning the medal did not guarantee her a spot in the Paris Olympics. According to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) rules, top 4 wrestlers in the trials compete for the Olympic spots. Thus, Vinesh might have had to face Anshu Malik, who won the bronze medal.

No Trials Held

WFI, under new president Sanjay Singh, announced that there would be no trials for the Olympics. As a result, Anshu Malik got a direct spot in the 53kg category.

This left Vinesh with two options: compete in the 50kg or 57kg category. She chose the 50kg category. The absence of trials created uncertainty for Vinesh, and other wrestlers like Ravi Dahiya and Sarita Mor also failed to secure spots for the Olympics.