PM Modi tells Vinesh Phogat: ‘Don’t get bogged down by defeat’

PM Modi reached out to Vinesh to boost the wrestler’s morale.

PM Modi met Indian Olympics athletes. (Credits: IE)
By Aaryanshi Mohan | Aug 17, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

PM Modi had a brief breakfast with the Indian Olympians in his official residents. there he applauded the performance of the athletes. He had a conversation with wrestler Vinesh Phogat. He applauded the wrester’s performance and suggested her not to be disheartened by the Tokyo Olympics defeat.

According to insiders, the Prime Minister offered a word of advice to Vinesh. It is being said that PM Modi was mindful of Vinesh ‘not meeting anyone’ after her loss in Tokyo.

As reported by the Indian Express, Modi reached out to Vinesh to boost the wrestler’s morale. PM Modi reportedly told the grappler that he was a fan of her skills and that he is thankful to her family for their contribution to the sport. The PM also told Vinesh that emotions of “self-anger” and “dejection” needed to be avoided. “Jeet ko sar par chadhne na do, haar ko man mein basne na do (Do not get arrogant in victory and do not get bogged down by defeat),” is what Modi reportedly told Vinesh.

Before PM Modi’s advice

Vinesh Phogat revealed last week that she was “broken” following her defeat at the Tokyo Olympics. In an Indian Express column, Phogat wrote, “I slept once since I reached home. I slept for two hours on the flight and sometimes in the Village. There, I would walk alone and drink coffee. I was alone. When the sun would rise, I felt sleepy. “I don’t know when I will return (to the mat). Maybe I won’t. I feel I was better off with that broken leg (suffered at the 2016 Rio Olympics). I had something to correct. Now my body is not broken, but I’m truly broken.”

Vinesh Phogat has below-par Tokyo Olympics

No.1 seed and India’s ultimate medal hopeful Vinesh Phogat suffered a shocking loss in the Tokyo Olympics. Phogat, wrestling in the quarterfinal of the women’s 53kg freestyle event, was beaten 9-3 by Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya.

The loss means that Vinesh’s dream for gold had been dashed. It was equally disappointing, considering how Vinesh’s chances for a medal were cruelly dashed in Rio Olympics 2016 due to injury. But, entering into the contest, the odds were heavily stacked. Kalandzinskaya had more experience than Vinesh Phogat, having competed in the 2012 London Olympics. In addition, the Belarusian was a two-time world championship winner while she had been winning gold, silver and bronze in the European championships since 2017.

Vinesh made a bad start and was already trailing 5-2 before the break. The Belarussian opened the scoring but the Indian immediately fought back. But, Kalandzinskaya managed to hold on to the lead. The Belarussian took a 7-2 lead and hope was fading fast for the Indian wrestler. However, the Indian challenged the call and the lead remained at 5-3. With 35 seconds left on the clock, Vinesh was pinned to the mat and Kalandzinskaya managed to win the match.