CHENNAI: Mat is the space she has ruled over a decade and a space she feels at home. In Paris, last year, that safe haven broke her too. After beating the world’s best wrestler in her weight category, she was on course for the biggest prize the planet could offer in sport – gold at Olympics. The night passed by and it was just a matter of hours before she would be facing her adversary, USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt – going by Vinesh’s form, the final was supposed to be a formality.
Yet, as fate would have it, she was overweight by 100 grams. She was broken and bruised both physically and mentally and came back empty handed. Announcement of retirement followed. By her side, through those moments of trials and tribulations, was her coach Woller Akos. If anybody would have known what had happened that night it was the Hungarian who was with her trying to shed those extra pounds as the clock ticked towards doom (the hour of weigh-in).
Now, more than a year after Paris and a few months after delivering her first baby (a boy), Vinesh has decided to come out of retirement and take another shot at destiny – the missing jigsaw in her illustrious career – an Olympic medal at LA 2028. Thousands of miles away in Budapest, Hungary, Woller Akos has been following Vinesh’s every move off the mat.
Woller puts the decision quite succinctly. “Vinesh has decided to come out of retirement,” he tells this daily during a Whatsapp interaction. “She said this decision is 200%. I think it is a good decision because that's what makes successful people different from others; if they make a mistake they will still try again. That's the power few people have. She too has this power. Time will decide what she can perform but I understand her feelings.” He believes that every person is different but feels, mentally and physically refreshed Vinesh can do great things.
The Hungarian coach, who is associated with the U19 national team and working with his club Vasas Sport Club in Budapest, says they are still in touch. But the decision to make a comeback is her own. “This decision need to be own,” he says. “It must be an intrinsic motivation. A coach in this situation is just secondary and can be just a tool. The motivation must come from the athlete. We talked. And she is dedicated!”
Like Vinesh, Paris was a big setback for Woller as well. But he did not want to talk about the ordeal in detail. “I remember everything. For better and for worse but I cannot talk about something that affects others,” he said.
But the coach feels that it is always good to focus on the positives. “I focus on the positives. I look at the performance. The performance (in Paris) was superhuman. Technically, tactically, physically too.” He turns philosophical while speaking about setbacks as a coach. “If we think about it (Paris) then the ego speaks for us,” he says. “We must let go of our ego. The athlete is always first. I think we have discussed after the Olympics but the grieving process is different for all. The past cannot influence the future. We can change the future in the present. So this is a new chapter.”
Though Paris will remain with him forever, he would prefer not to indulge too much with it. “It was hard days, months and a year but life goes on. I will remember every day of my life, the pain but also for the joys.”
Woller Akos also feels Vinesh is a very good person with a huge heart and sense of justice. “She does not tolerate compromise,” he says. “She can always change and hear the experiences of others.” As of coaching her again, Woller says "If she needs my help again I am open."