On Tuesday, the 11th day of the Paris Olympics 2024, Vinesh Phogat inspired millions of young wrestlers by becoming India’s first woman wrestler to reach the Olympic final, guaranteeing the nation at least a silver medal to move up in the medal table. She defeated Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman in the semi-finals with a score of 5-0. Vinesh dominated the match from the start, preventing her opponent from taking any points or gaining any advantage over her at any moment.
Earlier in the day, it was a historic moment for Vinesh at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, as she won all three bouts in the women’s 50kg category, starting with a victory over defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan. By winning 3-2 against the Tokyo gold medalist, Vinesh ended Susaki’s 82-match winning streak, making history in the process. Susaki challenged the last point awarded to Vinesh, but the referees declared Vinesh the winner in the semifinal.
Vinesh Makes It to the Final
Vinesh Phogat is now all set for her final bout in the Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday, August 7. The 29-year-old wrestler has a golden chance to secure a gold medal when she steps out on the wrestling mat for the final of the women’s 50kg category against Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States (USA).
If she finishes on top of the podium, she will be the first-ever Indian wrestler to win a gold medal in Olympic wrestling. Even if she settles for the silver medal, she will become only the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling, following Sakshi Malik. So far, India has won a total of 7 Olympic medals in wrestling, 5 of which are bronze and 2 are silver.
Mahavir Singh Phogat Praises Niece Vinesh for Classic Victory and Overcoming Odds
The legendary wrestler and coach Mahavir Singh Phogat was in all praise for his niece for reaching the 50kg wrestling category finals to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. He described Vinesh’s victory in the semi-finals on Tuesday as a tight slap in the faces of her haters and critics. He further added that if she wins gold, it will be momentous both on and off the wrestling mat for the country’s wrestlers.
Isn’t it interesting that months before her journey to the Paris Olympics 2024, Vinesh faced intense challenges? Her struggles include police detention in Delhi during the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan, backlash from the government and right-wing supporters across the nation, knee surgery, and a weight class change for the Olympics.
Vinesh Phogat: The Fighter
After missing out on her opportunity to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Vinesh made a stronger comeback by defeating Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Yui Susaki. With heartbreak, she exited the 2016 Rio Olympics due to a knee injury after her opponent China’s Sun Yanan pinned her in an uncomfortable position during the women’s 48kg division, and a setback at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 where she lost in the quarterfinals to Bulgarian wrestler Vanesa Kadochnikova in the 53kg event, Vinesh’s qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024 finals is itself a milestone for the top-seed wrestler.
