History of Vinesh Phogat in Timeline
Vinesh Phogat, an accomplished Indian wrestler and three-time Olympian hailing from Haryana, India, secured her position in the finals of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
August 1994: Birth of Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat was born in August 1994.
2011: Vinesh Phogat Meets Future Husband, Somvir Rathee
Vinesh Phogat and Somvir Rathee met while working for the Indian Railways in 2011.
2013: Vinesh Phogat Wins Bronze at Asian Wrestling Championships
Vinesh Phogat won a bronze medal in the women's freestyle 52 kg category at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships held in New Delhi, India.
2014: Vinesh Phogat Wins Bronze at Asian Games
Vinesh Phogat secured a bronze medal in the women's freestyle 48 kg category at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
2014: Vinesh Phogat Wins Gold at Commonwealth Games
Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the women's freestyle 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
2015: Vinesh Phogat Wins Silver at Asian Championships
Vinesh Phogat won the silver medal at the 2015 Asian Championships in Doha after losing the final to Yuki Irie of Japan.
2016: Vinesh Phogat at the Rio Olympics
Vinesh Phogat reached the quarterfinals of the women's freestyle wrestling competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio but lost to Sun Yanan of China due to a knee injury.
2016: Vinesh Phogat Qualifies for Rio Olympics
Vinesh Phogat qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics after winning the final round against Polish wrestler Iwona Matkowska in Istanbul.
2016: Ritu Phogat's Commonwealth Wrestling Championship Win
In 2016, Vinesh Phogat's cousin, Ritu Phogat, won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.
2017: Vanesa Kaladzinskaya Becomes World Champion
Vanesa Kaladzinskaya became a world champion in wrestling in 2017.
December 2018: Marriage of Vinesh Phogat and Somvir Rathee
Vinesh Phogat married her long-time boyfriend and fellow wrestler, Somvir Rathee, in December 2018.
2018: Vinesh Phogat's Historic Gold at Asian Games
Vinesh Phogat defeated Japan's Yuki Irie to win gold in the Women's 50-kg Freestyle Wrestling at the 2018 Asian Games, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to achieve this feat.
2018: Vinesh Phogat's Gold Medal at Commonwealth Games
Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the women's 50 kg freestyle wrestling event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
2019: Vinesh Phogat Nominated for Laureus World Sports Award
In 2019, Vinesh Phogat was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award.
2019: Vinesh Phogat's Victory at Yasar Dogu International
Vinesh Phogat clinched the gold medal at the 2019 Yasar Dogu International by defeating Ekaterina Poleshchuk of Russia.
2019: Vinesh Phogat's Bronze Medal Win at Asian Wrestling Championships
Vinesh Phogat secured the bronze medal at the 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships, defeating World Championships bronze medallist Qianyu Pang of China.
January 2020: Vinesh Phogat's Gold Medal Win at Rome Ranking Series
Vinesh Phogat started 2020 strong by winning gold at the Rome Ranking Series, defeating Luisa Elizabeth Valverde.
2020: Vinesh Phogat's World Championship Medal and Tokyo Olympics Qualification
Vinesh Phogat made history by winning a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championships in the women's 53 kg category. This win also secured her qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making her the first Indian wrestler to do so.
2020: Vinesh Phogat at the Tokyo Olympics and Subsequent Suspension
Vinesh Phogat competed in the women's 53 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she was defeated in the quarterfinals. Following the Olympics, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) suspended her for alleged indiscipline during the Games.
February 2021: Vinesh Phogat's Victories in Kiev and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series
Vinesh Phogat triumphed at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches Memorial tournament in Kiev in February 2021, defeating 2017 world champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya to win gold. She also secured gold at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event, regaining her world number one ranking.
August 2021: Vinesh Phogat at the Tokyo Olympics and Subsequent Suspension
Vinesh Phogat competed in the women's 53 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in August 2021, where she was defeated in the quarterfinals. Following the Olympics, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) suspended her for alleged indiscipline during the Games.
November 2021: WFI Restricts Private Training Agreements
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) implemented a rule in November 2021 that barred private organizations from signing training contracts with wrestlers without the WFI's approval. As a result, Vinesh Phogat lost her private contract with JSW Sports.
2021: Vinesh Phogat's Gold Medal at Poland Open
Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the women's 53 kg category at the 2021 Poland Open.
2022: Vinesh Phogat Wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year
Vinesh Phogat was honored with the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award in 2022.
2022: Vinesh Phogat's Success at Commonwealth Games and World Wrestling Championships
Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the women's 53 kg freestyle wrestling event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. She also secured a bronze medal in the 53 kg category at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
January 2023: Indian Wrestlers Demand Dissolution of WFI over Harassment Allegations
Vinesh Phogat joined a group of thirty Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medalists, in a protest demanding the dissolution of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The protest, which began in January 2023, called for action against coaches and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who were accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers. The protest was temporarily suspended after the government promised to form an oversight committee to investigate the allegations.
January 2023: Indian Wrestlers Protest Against Sexual Harassment
Vinesh Phogat participated in the first phase of the 2023 Indian wrestlers' protest against sexual harassment allegations within the Wrestling Federation of India, specifically against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh. The protest occurred in January 2023.
April 2023: Second Phase of Protest and Allegations
In April 2023, Vinesh Phogat participated in a second phase of protests. She alleged that after reporting wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to authorities, she experienced mental harassment, torture, and death threats.
April 2023: Indian Wrestlers Resume Protest Against WFI
Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, resumed their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in April 2023. The wrestlers claimed that the government had not taken adequate action to address their allegations of sexual harassment within the organization.
April 2023: Indian Wrestlers Continue Protest Against Sexual Harassment
Vinesh Phogat participated in the second phase of the 2023 Indian wrestlers' protest against sexual harassment allegations within the Wrestling Federation of India. The protest continued into April 2023.
December 2023: Suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India
On December 24, 2023, the Union Sports Ministry took action by suspending the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body, headed by Sanjay Singh. The suspension was attributed to the WFI's disregard for established policies and procedures.
2024: Vinesh Phogat Makes History at Paris Olympics
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat defeated reigning champion Yui Susaki, becoming the first international wrestler to do so. This victory also made her the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic finals.
2024: Vinesh Phogat Competes in Paris Olympics
In 2024, Vinesh Phogat competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris.
2024: Vinesh Phogat Qualifies for Paris Olympics and Makes History
Vinesh Phogat secured her place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after competing in the Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. At the Paris Olympics, she made history by becoming the first international wrestler to defeat Yui Susaki. This victory secured her at least a silver medal, making her the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final.