Paris Olympics Wrestling Final
KARACHI: Vinesh Phogat has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, securing at least a silver medal in the women’s 50kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
At 29 years old, Phogat’s remarkable journey to the final began with a significant victory over Japan’s reigning Olympic champion, Yui Susaki.
Her triumph over Susaki set a strong tone for her campaign. Following this, Phogat continued her impressive run by defeating Ukraine’s former European champion, Oksana Livach, in the quarter-finals.
The semi-final match saw Phogat facing off against Pan-American champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba.
The bout commenced with a cautious approach from both wrestlers, but Phogat quickly capitalized on Guzman’s defensive strategy to gain an early lead.
In the second period, Phogat showcased her wrestling prowess with two crucial takedowns, which solidified her victory with a final score of 5-0.
This achievement is particularly poignant given Phogat’s previous Olympic experiences. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, she was a strong contender but was sidelined by a serious injury.
Her performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was also marred by another injury, preventing her from winning a medal despite her high potential.
Phogat’s road to the Paris Olympics was also fraught with challenges, including her involvement in the wrestlers’ protest prior to the Games. Despite these obstacles, she has managed to overcome past setbacks and make history.
Vinesh Phogat now stands alongside Sakshi Malik as one of the only Indian women wrestlers to win an Olympic medal. Malik earned a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Phogat is set to compete for the gold medal on Wednesday. Her opponents for the final will be either Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA, who won a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, or Mongolia’s Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal, a three-time world championships medalist. This final match promises to be an exciting conclusion to Phogat’s historic Olympic campaign.
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