Commonwealth Games 2022: Vinesh Phogat eyes third consecutive Gold

Commonwealth Games 2022: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat is one of the top Indian contenders to secure a medal at this year's Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham. With two golds in the previous two editions, the 27-year-old Indian wrestler will be aiming to complete a hat-trick at Birmingham 2022.

She will compete in the 53-kg category at this year's CWG. In the previous two editions, she had competed in the 48-kg and 50-kg categories respectively.

However, this will be Vinesh's first major event ever since her disappointing show at the Tokyo Olympics, where she made an early exit having entered the competition as favourite.

Also read: Commonwealth Games 2022: Harmanpreet Kaur to lead India's 15-member squad

Following the debacle at Tokyo 2020, her career took a downward turn as she was banned by the Wrestling Federation of India on disciplinary grounds. She then pulled out of the World Championships trials in August last year, citing mental health issues. 

But in the trials for Birmingham 2022, she strolled past fellow wrestlers and did not concede a single point till the final, where she came from behind to secure her qualification for the quadrennial event.

On the back of her superb national comeback, India will be expecting a medal from the star wrestler. 

Here are Vinesh's biggest achievements in her career: 

• Won one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals in different editions of the Asian Championships.
• Won bronze at the 2019 World Championships in the 53-kg category. 
• She became the first Indian female wrestler in 2018 to win a gold medal in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.