Meenakshi Goyat secured a hard-fought victory over Vinesh Phogat in the women’s 53kg semifinal at the Asian Games selection trials, ending the seasoned wrestler’s bid to qualify for the continental event.
The match, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, remained tightly contested throughout, with both wrestlers exchanging points and neither managing to establish a decisive lead for most of the bout. In the closing stages, Meenakshi displayed better control under pressure, managing to edge ahead and maintain her advantage for a 6-4 win.
The result brought an abrupt end to Vinesh Phogat’s qualification campaign for the Asian Games, despite her strong start earlier in the competition. She had returned to competitive wrestling with an emphatic victory in the Round of 16, where she defeated Jyoti 7-1, showcasing her experience and attacking strength.
Her quarterfinal bout against Nishu also proved challenging, with Vinesh initially trailing by a significant margin. However, she staged a strong comeback in the final minutes to secure a narrow 7-6 win and book her place in the semifinal against Meenakshi.
The trials day also saw moments of disruption, including a brief technical issue that halted proceedings for several minutes due to a malfunctioning review system. Additionally, tensions flared during earlier bouts involving disputes over refereeing decisions, leading to heated exchanges between team members and officials.
Despite the setback in the semifinal, Vinesh remained composed after the contest, acknowledging the result and expressing her intent to return stronger in future competitions.
With Meenakshi Goyat’s victory, she moves a step closer to securing her place in the Asian Games squad, while the trials continue to determine India’s final wrestling lineup for the tournament.
