A race against time: Vinesh gears up for her biggest test

The 29-year-old won the nationals at Jaipur but in her quest to make it to Paris 2024, she will have to get the better of Antim Panghal

- Avishek Roy

On the day of her return to competition after almost 16 months, Vinesh Phogat quietly sat in a corner of the makeshift wrestling arena at the Railways cricket ground in Jaipur, soaking in the ambience at the National Championships. Observing the wrestlers prepare for their bouts, the competition unfolding in the middle, coaches hollering their wards, Vinesh could feel a surge of energy. Gradually, her mind moved towards that heightened space of excitement and anxiety that takes over an athlete before a competition. But, in that space, there were doubts and fear too.

Vinesh is coming back from an ACL surgery of her left knee with the Paris Olympics just six months away. This wasn't unfamiliar territory for her. In 2017, she had to fight a similar battle, but there was enough time to regain full fitness and prepare. And she was much younger then.

This time, the job at hand is much tougher for the two-time world championships medallist. Vinesh will turn 30 this year. In her weight class, the Paris Olympics quota has already been bagged by Antim Panghal, a reigning world championships medallist, and by far the most in-form Indian wrestler at the moment. Her path to Paris therefore will be cleared only if she can beat Antim in the trials at home.