Vinesh Phogat can have a shot at World No. 1 ranking for first time, Check how!

Ace Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has always dreamt to become the best wrestler in the world, the number wrestler in her category. And now this dream can turn into reality. India’s biggest hope for an Olympic medal in women’s wrestling at Tokyo is currently ranked number 3 in the 53kg category according to just-released March-end rankings by UWW. Phogat has scored 55 points and she is just 1 point behind her nemesis Mayu Mukaida of Japan who is number 2 with 56 points and 5 points behind world champion Yong Pak of North Korea who is currently number 1 ranked in the category.

Vinesh will not only have a chance to grab the elusive world number 1 ranking but also as a bonus, she can enter Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as the top seed in the competition. This will give a boost to her Olympic campaign. But for that to happen, the 2018 Asian Games gold medallist has to win the last UWW ranking series event in Warsaw, Poland. If she can replicate her Rome Ranking Series performance and win gold at Warsaw she can create history by becoming first Indian women ranked as number 1 in the UWW world rankings.

A top 4 finish in the ranking charts will also ensure that she avoids the likes of Korea’s Pak Yong, Japan’s Mayu Mukaida, and China’s Pang Qianyu early in the competition. However, one competitor whom Vinesh could face in earlier rounds despite finishing in the top 4 would be the 55kg World Champion Jacarra Winchester of USA. To compete at the Olympics, the USA grappler decided to move to the 53kg weight class. It is the first time she will be competing in Vinesh’s category and therefore is currently not ranked amongst the top 10. She is the world number one in the 55kg category.

Vinesh is currently training in a school in her village with her sister Priyanka. Despite the postponement of the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19 pandemic, she is still focused on her dream of an Olympic medal. “Yes it feels bad that our plans have all failed due to the current situation but it is the case with everyone. I am just focused on my training,” Vinesh had told WrestlingTV after she got to know the news of Olympics deferment.

The 26-year-old has already qualified for the Olympic Games after her medal-winning performance at 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan. She believes this has helped her avoid a lot of pressure as she did not think of the Olympic Qualifiers anymore. “Since I have already qualified for the Olympic Games there is little pressure of qualifications, which is good for me. It helps me think less of the Games and stay mentally fit,” she said.

For now, the Indian wrestler sits behind Pak Yong and Mukaida. World Champion Pak Yong is the top-ranked wrestler in the 53kg. She defeated Mukaida in 2019 World Championship in Nur-Sultan and climbed to the number one spot. Mukaida is close behind with 56 points. Vinesh is number three with 55 points while Luisa Valverde of Ecuador is number four, courtesy of her gold at Pan-American Championships.