Asian Games gold medal-winning wrestler, Vinesh Phogat makes history as the first Indian athlete to be nominated in one of the seven main categories at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Ace Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has become the first Indian to receive a nomination in the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards to be held here on February 18.
The 24-year-old Indian, who made a sensational comeback after battling a long injury lay-off to win a gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Jakarta Asian Games, has been nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year.
Privileged to be nominated for the @LaureusSport Award! Thankful to the international media for voting for me ? Massive honour for me to be the first Indian to earn a Laureus nomination and I am sure there will be lots of us on this stage in the years to come! #Laureus19 https://t.co/EKxxRDOk2u
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) January 18, 2019
The Haryana wrestler, who was stretchered off after dislocating her knee during the quarterfinals of 50kg freestyle event at the 2016 Olympic Games, has been nominated alongside US Tour Championship winner Tiger Woods, who won his first tournament in five years.
Phew! We’re done. All the nominations are here. Is your favourite on this list? Let us know below ?Congratulations to everyone who is nominated and good luck for the #Laureus19 World Sports Awards on 18 February 2019 in Monaco. pic.twitter.com/lKychOH4zx
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 17, 2019
Also nominated are four inspirational Winter Olympic athletes; Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, US ski racing legend Lindsey Vonn and Dutch Paralympic champion Bibian Mentel-Spee.
The last time an Indian sporting feat made its way to the Laureus World Sports Awards was in 2004 when the Indian cricket team and Pakistan cricket team shared the Laureus Sport for Good Award for playing an International match despite political tensions between the two countries.
Most recently, Magic Bus from India won the Laureus Sport for Good award in 2014. However, Vinesh makes history as the first Indian athlete to be nominated in one of the seven main categories at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
Here are those nominations in full for Laureus World Sporting Comeback of the Year at #Laureus19 pic.twitter.com/ViBSI5kio6
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 17, 2019
In contention for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year are Winter Olympic medalists Yuzuru Hanyu, Mark McMorris, Bibian Mentel-Spee and Lindsey Vonn, while Paralympic gold medalists Henrieta Farkasova, Brian McKeever and Oksana Masters are nominated for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
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