Paris, France, August 6, 2024: India’s Vinesh Phogat shocked reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan on her way to the final in the women’s 50kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, August 6.
The 29-year-old Phogat will compete for the gold medal against the USA’s Sarah Hildebradnt, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, on Wednesday.
Phogat also became the first Indian female wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Sakshi Malik, the only other Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India, had clinched a bronze medal at Rio 2016.
Phogat stormed into the women’s 50kg final on the back of three stunning wins. She defeated reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guman of Cuba in the semi-finals after getting the better of former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinals.
In her opening match, Phogat pulled off a colossal upset against the Tokyo 2020 champion Susaski.
Source: Olympics.com