Vinesh Phogat is her own person, was proved yet again when she altered strategy devised by coaches for key Olympic qualification match and came out trumps. Ahead of her world championships' Olympic qualifying bout, precise tactics suggested by coach Woller Akos were to "stay away from Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, block her right arm and protect legs." However, Vinesh said she did exactly opposite. "Coaches were suggesting something else but I felt something different on mat and changed tactics accordingly. I felt she was getting in, but because I was t conceding point, it was exhausting her," she said.

On changing her strategy

Speaking about changing her strategy on her own, Vinesh said, "I thought let's lure her into leg attacks more and stay solid in defence to completely wear her out. I let her come in but held her off. It worked for me. I knew how much strength she had compared to mine."  American number one got hold off of Vinesh's right leg in second repech bout five times but could t convert those moves into points. "Even if she had scored a few points, she would have got tired because she would have used all her power," Vinesh added.

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On her injury during RIO Olympics

Vinesh Phogat has t yet forgotten how Rio Olympics injury confined her to a wheelchair for some weeks. "My mor has almost stopped watching my bouts. She fears I may return with a broken leg again. Even if she watches, she will make it tough for ors by shouting like Arrey tang chhod de meri beti ki, tod na diyo (Leave leg of my daughter, don't break it)." While her mor keeps praying when her bout is on, her husband Sombir Rae chips in with his inputs. "He may t have won medals but has a sharp wrestling mind. He would come up saying same things what my foreign coach would suggest."

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On winning World Championship Medal 

world championship medal was missing from her CV for long and w that she has ticked box, Vinesh said it gives her cushion of a few months to plan better for 'Mission Tokyo'. "It's first Olympic qualification tournament and a world championship too, so every athlete came here well-prepared and with a different mindset. Taking a medal from this group is definitely big for me. It's a relief because w I have a lot of time to prepare for Olympics. And it's a bronze only. I want to convert it to a gold and also win Olympic medal," she said.

Furr, Vinesh is pleased with way she trained her mind to overcome a few negative thoughts that plagued her mind when it came to switching her weight category. "I used to think how will I beat a 53kg wrestler like Sofia Mattsson, who is so strong. But I changed mind-set and beat her. So I am moving in right direction. "My better version is yet to come. I think you will see my best in Olympics, that's pinnacle," she said.

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After losing to Mayu Mukaida from Japan, Vinesh conceded just three points in next four bouts. "Anything can happen on mat. You have seen Korean girl (Yong Mi Pak) beat Mukaida 11-0 in final and I have beaten that Korean girl twice. But yes, if I had won against Japanese, results would have been different. My category is such that five-six wrestlers can beat each or on any given day. Depends on day and body langu," she explained.

On wrestling strong opponents

Speaking about wrestling strong opponents, she said, "I was t nervous because I had to wrestle strong opponents. It is a World Championship and qualifying for Olympics was very important for me, so that nervousness was re. If I lose to a strong opponent, I don't mind that. Like I lost to Mukaida, she is good and I tried.  Nervousness is good sometimes." Vinesh said though she has started to do well in 53kg category, it still is a new category for her. She is still figuring out stronger wrestlers like Mukaida which will take some time. Vinesh had lost to her at Asian Championship as well.

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