<p>Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Locking the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/olympic">Olympic</a> quota would put <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/vinesh-phogat">Vinesh Phogat</a> at ease for a few days, but the fiery Indian wrestler says maintaining weight having dropped to the lowest class of 50kg will be a huge challenge in the build-up to the Paris Games.</p>.<p>Vinesh dished out an impressive show at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, where she did not concede a single point in an easy draw and sealed her third consecutive Olympic quota.</p>.<p>Vinesh, 29, lost crucial mat-time for one and a half years due to the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and in that period, Antim Panghal secured a quota place in 53kg category - a pet weight division of Vinesh.</p>.<p>The most successful woman wrestler from the country had no option but to switch the weight category to ensure that she does not miss the bus to Olympics.</p>.<p>"I will have to manage my weight a lot better. I have brought myself down to 50kg after so long so I will try and maintain this as much as I can. It's not easy for me not to put on weight because my muscle mass is very high," Vinesh said after winning the 50kg quota for India.</p>.Wrestling trials drama: Vinesh Phogat does not let bouts start in 2 categories.<p>"Because of that, I gain weight easily. It doesn't matter how fit I am, I still gain weight because I have a lot of muscle mass. I just want to control my weight. I have four months left, and every day is very important," she was quoted as saying by official UWW website.</p>.<p>"I did the weight switch because I didn't have any option, not out of happiness. But I won a quota for my country in the 50kg category. I am happy that I can go to the Olympics. Whether I go in the 50kg category or in the 53kg category, that will be decided in the trials, but whatever it is, I won a quota for my country." </p><p>Vinesh has already suffered heartbreaks at the Rio Olympics and Tokyo Games where she was eliminated quite early despite being a medal favourite.</p>.<p>Now she wants to complete the unfinished business.</p>.<p>"I just want to try my best. It's been 20 years since I've been wrestling. I just want an Olympic medal. Everyone is working for that." </p><p>Vinesh had claimed that she fought depression and was even struck by Covid-19 and add to that the prolonged protest and legal battle against the then WFI chief, the mental pressure was immense.</p>.<p>She still came out and performed in Bishkek.</p>.<p>"It was difficult but when you win, everything becomes worth it. I will say that I will be at peace for four to five days, but my main target is the Olympics. I will try to do what I couldn't do in the last two Olympics. I can do better at this Olympics."</p><p>Vinesh dismissed the view that it was an easy job for her in Bishkek since strong wrestlers were not part of the competition.</p>.Why are India's junior wrestlers protesting against Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat?.<p>"Competition is competition. It is not that only if China and Japan are competing alongside you that it becomes a competition. Everyone becomes strong on the mat." </p><p>She is one of the most accomplished woman wrestlers from India with two Worlds medals, several Asian and Asian Games titles to her name.</p>.<p>Now she is determined to add that missing Olympic medal to her bulging trophy cabinet.</p>.<p>"It's taken so much hard work and struggle. I have been away from the mat for 1-1/2 years. I have come back after an operation. Many people have suggested that I should not go in the 50kg category because I could get injured again."</p>.<p>"But I did not have any option. It was a do-or-die situation. I chose the die option." </p>
<p>Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Locking the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/olympic">Olympic</a> quota would put <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/vinesh-phogat">Vinesh Phogat</a> at ease for a few days, but the fiery Indian wrestler says maintaining weight having dropped to the lowest class of 50kg will be a huge challenge in the build-up to the Paris Games.</p>.<p>Vinesh dished out an impressive show at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, where she did not concede a single point in an easy draw and sealed her third consecutive Olympic quota.</p>.<p>Vinesh, 29, lost crucial mat-time for one and a half years due to the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and in that period, Antim Panghal secured a quota place in 53kg category - a pet weight division of Vinesh.</p>.<p>The most successful woman wrestler from the country had no option but to switch the weight category to ensure that she does not miss the bus to Olympics.</p>.<p>"I will have to manage my weight a lot better. I have brought myself down to 50kg after so long so I will try and maintain this as much as I can. It's not easy for me not to put on weight because my muscle mass is very high," Vinesh said after winning the 50kg quota for India.</p>.Wrestling trials drama: Vinesh Phogat does not let bouts start in 2 categories.<p>"Because of that, I gain weight easily. It doesn't matter how fit I am, I still gain weight because I have a lot of muscle mass. I just want to control my weight. I have four months left, and every day is very important," she was quoted as saying by official UWW website.</p>.<p>"I did the weight switch because I didn't have any option, not out of happiness. But I won a quota for my country in the 50kg category. I am happy that I can go to the Olympics. Whether I go in the 50kg category or in the 53kg category, that will be decided in the trials, but whatever it is, I won a quota for my country." </p><p>Vinesh has already suffered heartbreaks at the Rio Olympics and Tokyo Games where she was eliminated quite early despite being a medal favourite.</p>.<p>Now she wants to complete the unfinished business.</p>.<p>"I just want to try my best. It's been 20 years since I've been wrestling. I just want an Olympic medal. Everyone is working for that." </p><p>Vinesh had claimed that she fought depression and was even struck by Covid-19 and add to that the prolonged protest and legal battle against the then WFI chief, the mental pressure was immense.</p>.<p>She still came out and performed in Bishkek.</p>.<p>"It was difficult but when you win, everything becomes worth it. I will say that I will be at peace for four to five days, but my main target is the Olympics. I will try to do what I couldn't do in the last two Olympics. I can do better at this Olympics."</p><p>Vinesh dismissed the view that it was an easy job for her in Bishkek since strong wrestlers were not part of the competition.</p>.Why are India's junior wrestlers protesting against Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat?.<p>"Competition is competition. It is not that only if China and Japan are competing alongside you that it becomes a competition. Everyone becomes strong on the mat." </p><p>She is one of the most accomplished woman wrestlers from India with two Worlds medals, several Asian and Asian Games titles to her name.</p>.<p>Now she is determined to add that missing Olympic medal to her bulging trophy cabinet.</p>.<p>"It's taken so much hard work and struggle. I have been away from the mat for 1-1/2 years. I have come back after an operation. Many people have suggested that I should not go in the 50kg category because I could get injured again."</p>.<p>"But I did not have any option. It was a do-or-die situation. I chose the die option." </p>