Star wrestler Vinesh Phogat who is looking to redeem herself after her 2016 Rio Olympics forfeit missed her flight to Tokyo from Frankurt on Tuesday night. The 26-year-old Indian wrestler reportedly overstayed her European Union (EU) visa by a day as an ‘oversight’, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated.
According to PTI, Vinesh Phogat was expected to leave for Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Tuesday however, she was stopped from boarding her connecting flight at the Frankfurt Airport after the authorities found out that she had stayed for 91 days in the EU instead of the 90 days that were approved in her Schengen visa.
The 26-year-old is the reigning Asian Games and Commonwealth Game champion and won bronze in the World Championships.
“It was an oversight and something not done on purpose. Instead of 90 days as per her Schengen visa, it was calculated that she had been in the EU for 91 days after she landed in Frankfurt from Budapest,” PTI quoted an IOA official.
“The matter was taken up by SAI swiftly and the Indian consulate in Frankfurt reached the airport to sort out the matter. Vinesh will be in Tokyo tomorrow.”
Phogat, who was training in Hungary with her coach Woller Akos ahead of the Games, were to reach Tokyo on Tuesday night but she was stopped at the Frankfurt Airport before boarding the connecting flight to the Japanese capital.
Vinesh is seen as a gold medal contender in the 53kg women’s freestyle category and is the top seed. Her competitions starts August 5.
The way Vinesh has dominated the circuit, she is easily a strong gold contender in her category. The change in weight category has worked well for her as she now has more strength in her muscles.
She is a tactically superior wrestler, has immense power that makes her one of the favourites. However, she can concede points on counter-attack, the only area of concern in her game.
