Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat withdraws from the Budapest Ranking Series in 2023

Because of her illness, VineshPhogat withdraws from the Budapest Ranking Series in 2023.

Due to stomach poisoning and a fever, Vinesh withdrew. The sole wrestler from India to compete in Hungary, Sangeeta Phogat, took third place in the women's 59kg division.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, a highly accomplished athlete with two world championship medals and the reigning Asian Games champion was regrettably forced to withdraw from the prestigious Budapest Ranking Series 2023 due to a sudden illness. Anticipation was high as she was expected to showcase her exceptional skills in the fiercely competitive 55kg weight class on Saturday. However, Vinesh Phogat promptly notified both the event organizers and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) about her unfortunate inability to participate, citing fever and food poisoning as the reasons behind her unexpected absence.

The Budapest Ranking Series, hosted in Hungary, held special significance for Vinesh Phogat, as it would have marked her long-awaited return to the competitive arena since her impressive bronze medal win in the women's 53kg category at the Belgrade world championships nearly a year ago. To ensure optimum preparation, Vinesh Phogat had recently relocated from her training base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Tata, a town near Budapest, dedicating herself to fine-tuning her skills for the highly anticipated Hungary ranking wrestling tournament.

Regrettably, Vinesh's withdrawal meant that the hopes of the Indian wrestling contingent rested solely on the shoulders of Sangeeta Phogat, who valiantly stepped onto the mat to represent her country at the Budapest meet. Initially, other Indian wrestlers, including Sarita Mor (competing in the women's 59kg category), Sujeet (competing in the men's 65kg category), and Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar (competing in the 87kg category), were also slated to participate. However, they had withdrawn from the tournament earlier, leaving Sangeeta Phogat as the sole Indian athlete in contention.

Competing in the fiercely contested women's 59kg category, Sangeeta Phogat faced a challenging opening round against Jennifer Page Rogers from the United States, who eventually reached the tournament finals. Despite a valiant effort, Sangeeta Phogat was unable to secure victory in the first round. However, she displayed remarkable resilience and determination, bouncing back with a resounding victory over another American grappler, Brenda Olivia Reyna, through technical superiority in the third round.

Undeterred by her initial setback, Sangeeta Phogat pressed forward with unwavering resolve, advancing to the semi-finals. In a closely fought match, she narrowly succumbed to a 6-4 defeat against Magdalena Urszula Glodek from Poland, entering the bronze medal match. Determined to secure a place on the podium, Sangeeta faced off against Viktoria Borsos, a formidable local wrestler, in the bronze medal showdown. Demonstrating her tenacity and skill, Sangeeta Phogat emerged victorious with a convincing score of 6-2, proudly clinching the bronze medal for India.

The Budapest meet, known as the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial wrestling tournament, carried significant weight as the final and fourth event in the year's ranking series. Although Vinesh Phogat's withdrawal was a disappointment, Sangeeta Phogat's commendable performance and bronze medal triumph brought a sense of pride and achievement to the Indian wrestling contingent, leaving an indelible mark on the prestigious tournament.