Vinesh Phogat fails to qualify for Asian Games 2026 after dramatic 4-6 loss in 53kg wrestling trials

2 hours ago 2

ARTICLE AD BOX

Vinesh Phogat began the day on a strong note. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the semi-final against Meenakshi.

Vinesh Phogat during a 53kg category wrestling match against Jyoti at the Asian Games selection trials, in New Delhi.

Indian wrestling star and Olympian Vinesh Phogat saw her hopes of competing at the Asian Games 2026 fade away on Saturday after a tough defeat in the selection trials. The 53kg category bout at Indira Gandhi Stadium ended her campaign in the semi-finals, leaving fans and followers stunned.

Vinesh Phogat began the day on a strong note. She kicked off with a commanding 7-1 victory over Jyoti in her opening match. Buoyed by that win, she followed it up by beating Nishu in her second bout. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the semi-final against Meenakshi. The 4-6 loss proved decisive, shutting the door on her Asian Games qualification dreams for now.

(More to follow)

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

Read Entire Article