It would be difficult to maintain weight: Vinesh Phogat

For a few days, locking up the Olympic quota will soothe Vinesh Phogat’s mind, but the Indian wrestler said that it would be very difficult to maintain weight in the lead-up to the Paris Games after dropping to the lowest class of 50 kg. At the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, Vinesh put up an outstanding performance, winning an easy draw without giving up a single point and securing her third straight Olympic quota.

The protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the previous head of the Wrestling Federation of India, cost Vinesh valuable time. During that time, Antim Panghal earned a spot in Vinesh’s favorite weight class, the 53kg group. The 29-year-old was forced to change her weight class in order to make sure she wouldn’t miss the bus to the Olympics.

“I’ll need to control my weight much more effectively. I shall do everything in my power to keep my weight at 50 kg, as I have done after a very long time,” Vinesh said.

Keeping off weight gain is difficult for me because of my considerable muscular mass. I quickly acquire weight as a result. I have a lot of muscular mass, therefore no matter how fit I am, I still gain weight. I have four months left, and each day counts much. That I can attend the Olympics makes me joyful. I’ll decide at the trials whether to enter the 50 kg or 53 kg division,” she said.

Despite being a medal favorite, Vinesh had heartbreaks as she was eliminated early from the Rio and Tokyo Games. “I simply want to give it my all. All I want is an Olympic medal,” she said.