Paris Olympics, wrestling: Vinesh Phogat stuns defending champion Yui Susaki
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has reached the quarter-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 29-year-old prevailed in her women's 50kg Round of 16 bout, beating Japan's Yui Susaki. Notably, Susaki entered as the defending gold medalist. She has lost her first-ever bout in international wrestling. Vinesh claimed a 3-2 win in the R16 bout through a last-moment takedown. Here are further details.
Here's how the bout panned out
Susaki opened her attack in initial moments, thereby taking the first point. Although Vinesh showcased terrific defense, the Japanese wrestler stole a point. With a minute to go, Susaki extended her lead to 2-0. Vinesh was trailing until the final five seconds of the bout, when a takedown took her past Susaki. Japan challenged the referee's decision, however, Vinesh won by a 3-2 margin.
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. The latter had never lost an international bout before this match. Notably, Susaki won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (50kg event) without conceding a single point.
Can Vinesh add an eighth medal?
It is worth noting that seven of India's Olympic medals have come in wrestling (two silver and five bronze). 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.
