PM Modi to Vinesh Phogat: ‘Don’t get bogged down by defeat’ – Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a brief conversation with wrestler Vinesh Phogat during his meeting with the Indian Tokyo 2020 Olympic contingent over breakfast at his official residence.
According to insiders, the Prime Minister offered a word of advice to Vinesh, who currently stands suspended by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) due to indiscipline during the Summer Games. It is believed that Modi was mindful of Vinesh ‘not meeting anyone’ after her loss in Tokyo.
Breakfast with Modi: PM consoles Vinesh Phogat: As reported by the Indian Express, Modi reached out to Vinesh to boost the wrestler’s morale following a tumultuous last few weeks since the Olympics. Modi reportedly told the grappler that not only was he a fan of her skills, but also he respected the contribution her family has made to the sport. The PM also told Vinesh that emotions of “self-anger” and “dejection” needed to be avoided in what could prove to be a vital pep talk for the 26-year-old. “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
Breakfast with Modi: PM consoles Vinesh Phogat: Vinesh has been suspended and issued a show-cause notice by the WFI, with three charges of misdemeanour during the Games. Headed by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Vinesh has been accused of staying and training away from her teammates, while also refusing to wear the official team jersey. The 26-year-old accepted two of the three charges but said that not wearing the jersey was an ‘unintended’ error.
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.”
