Wrestler Vinesh Phogat tests coronavirus positive, to miss virtual National Sports Awards ceremony

Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat has said she tested positive for novel coronavirus. The celebrated wrestler, who was recently conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, confirmed the development on Friday.

Vinesh Phogat will be missing the National Sports Awards virtual ceremony on Saturday wherein she was set to be conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour. Vinesh was one of the 5 athletes who were conferred with the Khel Ratna Award this year.

“Yes, I have tested positive for Covid-19 when my sample was taken in Sonepat before the dress rehearsal for the awards ceremony.” Vinesh Phogat told PTI.

“I will recover soon, God willing, I am in isolation at home.”

Vinesh’s positive Covid-19 test comes days after she pulled out of the rescheduled wrestling national camp for Olympic weight category wrestlers, starting September 1.

Notably, Vinesh Phogat had cited health risks due to the novel coronavirus pandemic when explaining her decision to not travel to Lucknow for the camp. The Wrestling Federation of India decided to host the national camp for men’s Olympic weight category in Sonepat and women at Lucknow from next month.

Vinesh had said she tends to fall sick quite easily and that she was comfortable training in Sonepat. The 26-year-old, who has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, said she was following the plan sent by her personal coach Woller Akos.

“I am not going to attend the camp. I am training every day with coach Om Parkash, who follows the plan which my personal coach Woller Akos sends me every week. The situation is not good to travel to Lucknow,” Vinesh had told PTI earlier this month.

“My stomach is pretty sensitive. You can’t go out of the SAI centre in Lucknow, so you can’t get yourself a few things which you need. In Lucknow, cases are rising but it’s safe in Haryana, so I am more comfortable here.”

However, Wrestling Federation of India assistant secretary Vinod Tomar was not impressed with Vinesh’s reasoning, saying the committee will only decide if Vinesh would get an exception.

“We want preparation to kick off now for Olympics. We are not running a shop for our benefit, the camp is for players and when they express such apprehensions, it’s a bit surprising,” Tomar had said.