Paris Olympics: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat reaches final, confirms medal
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has assured India of its fourth medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Vinesh scripted history after reaching the wrestling women's 50kg final. She beat Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semi-final. Notably, Vinesh has become only the second Indian female wrestler with an Olympic medal after Sakshi Malik. The former could be India's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
Vinesh stunned defending champion Susaki in quarter-finals
Vinesh came out all guns blazing as she stunned Japan's Yui Susaki to reach the quarter-final. Susaki won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Vinesh claimed a 3-2 win in the R16 bout through a last-moment takedown. The Indian wrestler then overcame Oksana Livach of Ukraine. She claimed a 7-4 win in the quarter-final bout after claiming an early lead.
India's Olympic eighth medal in wrestling
It is worth noting that Vinesh has won India's eighth medal in wrestling at the Olympics. KD Jadhav was the first Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal. He won bronze way back in the 1952. Sushil Kumar (2008 and 2012), Yogeshwar Dutt (2012), Sakshi Malik (2016), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (2020), and Bajrang Punia (2020) are India's other medalists.
Vinesh enters record books
As mentioned, Vinesh is only India's second female wrestler to claim an Olympic medal. She follows Sakshi, who won the bronze medal (58 kg category) at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Vinesh could now bring home India's first-ever Olympic gold in wrestling.
The biggest upset in wrestling
It is worth noting that Vinesh's win over Susaki is deemed one of the biggest upsets in wrestling. She became the first-ever international wrestler to defeat Susaki. She had never lost an international bout before this match.
Back-to-back appearances at Olympics
Vinesh first appeared at the Olympics in 2016 (Rio Games). She lost the 48kg quarter-final to Sun Yanan of China due to an untimely knee injury. The Indian wrestler lost the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quarter-final in the 53kg category to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya. Earlier this year, Vinesh became the first-ever Indian female wrestler to qualify for three successive Olympic Games.
