Born on August 25, 1994, in the Bhiwani district of Haryana, Vinesh Phogat is an Indian wrestler. She is the daughter of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat's younger brother Rajpal. Hailing from the family of famous wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, she became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Just like her cousins, she also faced immense pressure and opposition from the community in her village in Haryana for pursuing wrestling. But proving her worth, Phogat bagged the bronze medal in the women's freestyle 52 kg category at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India. She also won the silver medal in the women's freestyle 51 kg category in the 2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships.
During the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Vinesh represented India in the women's freestyle 48 kg category and won the gold medal. At the 2015 Asian Championships in Doha, Phogat won the silver medal in her category after losing the final to Yuki Irie of Japan. But, during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Vinesh lost to Sun Yanan of China owing to a knee injury.
The 26-year-old wrestler stormed back at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and bagged the gold medal in women's 50 kg freestyle wrestling.
In December 2018, she married her long-time boyfriend and fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee of Bakhta Khera village of Jind district. Somvir is also a two-time gold medalist in the national championship. Her official Twitter handle is @Phogat_Vinesh and the name of her official Facebook page is Vinesh Phogat. She is also active on Instagram, under the username @vineshphogat.
In a major development for Indian sports, wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced a U-turn on her retirement, confirming her decision to return to the mat and target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Speaking on India Today, Principal Correspondent Nitin Srivastava reports that the 31-year-old athlete is driven by her 'unfulfilled dream' of winning an Olympic medal, following her heartbreaking disqualification at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Phogat, who gave birth to a baby boy in July 2025, stated that she will have her 'young cheerleader' by her side for this second innings. Srivastava highlights the crucial support of her husband and fellow wrestler, Somvir Rathee, in her preparation. The report underscores Phogat's determination to overcome past setbacks and reclaim her position on the global stage.
Wrestler-turned-MLA Vinesh Phogat has accepted a ₹4 crore reward from the Haryana government.
Speaking at the Khanauri border, Congress leader Vinesh Phogat urged people across Punjab, Haryana, and the nation to support farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is risking his life for others.
In an interview with India Today, firmer India wrestler Sakshi Malik discussed her early struggles as a wrestler, including travelling by train next to toilets. She also shared insights from her autobiography Witness and her experience in the wrestlers' protest.
Vinesh Phogat while speaking to the media said, "It's not clear yet. When the certificates are out, Congress's government will be formed."
Vinesh Phogat, making her political debut as a Congress candidate, has won the Julana seat by 5,761 votes.
Voters in Haryana cast their ballot in the single-phase Assembly polls on Saturday, October 5 to decide the fate of candidates who are vying for the 90 seats that are in the fray.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that she cast her vote in the Haryana Assembly elections for the party that worked for the safety of women and for providing jobs.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns for Vinesh Phogat in Haryana, aiming to take power from the BJP.
As Haryana gears up for assembly elections on October 5, India Today's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai travels to Balali, Julana, Mukanpur, Bahadurgarh and Rohtak to find out which way the wind is blowing in the state.
Wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat, known for her prowess on the mat, has embarked on a new challenge — politics. Contesting from the Julana constituency in Jind, Haryana, Phogat said her entry into politics was not by choice but born out of necessity. In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Phogat spoke in detail about her decision to enter politics, about why she chose to contest on Congress ticket, and what is her vision for Haryana.
In an exclusive interview with India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, wrestler-turned-politician and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat talked about entering politics, contesting from Julana seat in Haryana assembly polls and her future plans and more.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini highlighted the progress Haryana has made under his leadership, emphasising that the last decade brought significant development across the state.
Congress' wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday filed her nomination papers from Julana for the upcoming Haryana assembly seat.
India Today's Nikhil Naz dissects Vinesh Phogat's explosive claims about lack of support and politics during her Paris Olympic ordeal. The former wrestler accused Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha of not supporting her in Paris. Vinesh returned empty-handed from the Olympics after her appeal against disqualification was rejected.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday slammed former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for saying, referring to her disqualification at the Paris Olympics, that God punished her because she cheated in wrestling trials.
Olympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia on Sunday attacked Haryana Chief Minister and BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini for claiming that it would not be too difficult for any candidate to beat Vinesh Phogat in Haryana Assembly elections.
Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, against whom wrestlers had levelled sexual harassment allegations, claimed that Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat "deserved" whatever happened to her, after she joined Congress.
Tokyo Olympics Bronze medallist and newly inducted Congress member Bajrang Punia on Saturday slammed the BJP and its leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and said they are still trying to break the soldiers. Speaking exclusively to India Today's sister channel Aajtak, Punia said, "They are still trying to break the wrestlers. Wherever we go, we fight for our flag and our country. "Brij Bhushan Singh is a history sheeter, with charges from theft to sedition. The BJP is supporting him. I have no hopes from PM Modi now. Agencies were used against me; I was banned on dope charges. I have no expectations from the WFI President,” he said. Phogat and Punia had been part of the wrestlers' protests against Singh in 2023, which led to his eventual trial for sexual harassment. Singh has denied the allegations and claimed that he was not present in Delhi on the day of the incident.
Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Saturday hit out at Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, saying that their protest against him was politically motivated. Speaking to news agency ANI, the former WFI also accused Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat of cheating to attend the games. He claimed that Phogat could not win a medal because God had punished her.
