In an historic match, Vinesh Phogat defeated Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (Cuba) 5-0 to enter Olympics 2024 women’s wrestling 50kg final. With this Vinesh became the first Indian woman to enter wrestling final at the Olympics.
She has secured her first Olympic medal in her third appearance at the Olympics games and it will be at least a silver medal.
Earlier today, she stunned world no. 1 and defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the Round of 16, before edging out Ukraine Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals. Vinesh will take on Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman Lopez for a place in the final.
Phogat’s victory was significant as Yui Susaki had not conceded a single point on her way to winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Before this match, Susaki had lost only three times in her entire career, with Vinesh handing her the fourth defeat. Susaki had not lost a match in international wrestling and was 82-0 up before her bout with Phogat.
Notably, Vinesh was the medal contender at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 for India. Her campaign in 2016 came to an end due to a career-threatening injury during the tournament while she missed out on a medal in Tokyo and later revealed that she was managing another injury during the tournament.
Meanwhile, India’s ‘Golden Boy’ Neeraj Chopra entered the men’s javelin throw final after a season best attempt of 89.34m. India’s other javelin star Kishore Jena, however, failed to qualify for the men’s final.
