NEW DELHI, Jan 21: Stubborn by her own admission, trailblazing Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat doesn�t mind being called arrogant for it since the attitude comes in handy to intimidate rivals on the mat.
Speaking to PTI in an exclusive interview, India�s first woman wrestler to claim an Asian Games gold medal dwelled on the perceptions about her, life after marriage to fellow grappler Somvir Rathee and her Olympic dreams.
�I am very stubborn, since childhood. If I feel something is right, even if that is wrong, I will be very stubborn about that and I make sure people agree with me even if I am wrong sometimes,� she laughed.
But would she call it a virtue, to be steadfast even if wrong?
�If someone explains with love and proves that my thought process is wrong and I also start to realise that, then I concede and step back,� she said.
And what about the perception of being arrogant for being so headstrong?
�Yes people say that (arrogant) but I know what�s inside me. And if it helps me on the mat, I don�t bother,� she said.
�It helps me on the mat. People say it�s over-confidence but for me it�s belief. I don�t get intimidated and your opponent also notices the body language. Some people work on it but for me it�s God gift,� she added.
The 24-year-old Commonwealth Games champion recently got married and is now determined to end the stereotype of women�s career getting affected by their marital status.
�People say that after marriage, we lose spark and fire but I want to break this myth. I want to take this fear out of girls that marriage is a barrier. I want to be an example, so I decided to marry early,� Vinesh said.
�Of course you need support of your partner. There are a few in our society who do not believe in (love) relationships (without marriage) so they will ask why don�t you get married and some will say why marry so early? Now Olympics is a major competition and I have all the support of Somvir,� she said.
Vinesh, the first Indian athlete ever to be nominated for Laureus World Sports Award, also insisted that the mindset of Indian wrestlers have changed.
�I feel India have 4-5 strong contenders, who can beat any wrestler in the world. I won�t take names but we can win 2-3 Olympic medals. The mindset has changed,� she asserted.
�Earlier people used to just look for participation or win a round at the Worlds but now medals are a possibility for all. I know these girls. After Sakshi�s bronze, girls are now targeting gold at Olympics.
�We have started becoming technically smart while earlier we just played a power game, it�s giving results.�
The significance of getting a nomination for the prestigious Laureus awards has still not dawned on the Haryana grappler. � PTI
