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Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat pulled herself out of the Asian Games 2023 due to a knee injury she suffered on August 13. Vinesh break the news that she will undergo surgery on August 17. Antim Panghal, who had won the 53kg trials, will now replace Vinesh Phogat in India's Asian Games squad. The 19-year-old is in Jordan to compete in the U-20 World Championship. The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist is disappointed not to be able to defend her title in this edition in Hangzhou starting September 23.
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"A couple of days ago, I injured my knee in training. After doing the scans, doctors said surgery is the only option for me. I will be undergoing surgery on August 17 in Mumbai," Vinesh said.
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 15, 2023
"I will be undergoing surgery on 17th August in Mumbai. It was my dream to retain my Asian Games Gold medal for India which I won in 2018 at Jakarta. But unfortunately, this injury has ruled out my participation now. I have informed concerned authorities immediately so that the Reserve player can be sent to the Asian Games. I would like to request all the fans to continue supporting me so that I can make a strong comeback on the mat soon and prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Your support gives me a lot of strength," the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist and a bronze medalist at the WWC added.
Vinesh will not be able to compete in the World Championships too. Vinesh and Bajrang Punia received an exemption from the Asian Games trials. It created a huge chaos with the majority of the wrestling fraternity criticizing the decision taken by the ad-hoc panel. Panghal and Sujit Kalkal also dragged Vinesh and Bajrang Punia to court, challenging the direct entries handed to them for the Games but the High Court dismissed their petition.
The IOA-appointed committee then decided not to give exemption to any wrestler for the Worlds trials. Vinesh and Bajrang still had not confirmed their participation in the World Championships.