Vinesh Phogat has made history by securing a spot in the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024, guaranteeing at least a silver medal for India. This marks India’s fourth medal of the Games and the best so far. By defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinal, Phogat becomes the first Indian female wrestler to advance beyond a bronze medal. She now has the opportunity to win India’s first-ever wrestling gold at the Olympics.
Both wrestlers started cautiously, with Vinesh employing a strategic and patient approach. Despite finding herself in a precarious position due to Lopez’s leg lock, Vinesh managed to take a 1-0 lead after Lopez received a passivity warning. In the second round, Vinesh extended her lead to 5-0 with a powerful flip, ensuring her place in the final.
Earlier, Vinesh defeated Tokyo gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan, ending Susaki’s 82-match winning streak with a 3-2 victory. In the quarterfinals, Vinesh secured a 7-5 win against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, a former European champion and World Championship bronze medallist.
This historic achievement follows Vinesh’s successful career, which includes three Commonwealth Games gold medals, an Asian Games title, and eight Asian Championship medals. Her journey to Olympic success has been marked by perseverance and strategic brilliance, culminating in this landmark moment for Indian wrestling.
