Don’t mind being called arrogant: Phogat

New Delhi: 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’s gift,” she added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)