Paris Olympics 2024: During the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat booked her place in the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle category, becoming the first Indian woman to fight for an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Phogat will face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the gold medal match on Wednesday.
Phogat’s journey to the final saw several impressive wins, starting with a stunning 3-2 win over Japan’s world No. 1 and reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki. According to reports, the upset win ended Susaki’s 83-fight undefeated streak and laid the foundation for Phogat’s stellar performance.
After her initial win, Phogat continued her dominance by defeating 2018 European champion Oxana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinals. She then sealed her place in the final with a strategic 5-0 win over Cuba’s Yusnelis Guzman Lopez in the semifinals.
This performance is a significant comeback for Phogat, who has faced several challenges since the Tokyo Olympics. After a disappointing quarterfinal loss in 2021, she was involved in a controversial process with the Wrestling Federation of India, which once led to her thinking of retiring from the sport.
However, Phogat’s motivation goes beyond personal thinking. According to fellow Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, Phogat’s motivation is to create a better environment for future wrestlers. “I am fighting for the future generation of wrestlers. Not for myself, my career is over and this is my last Olympics,” Punia was quoted as saying by ESPN. I want to fight for those young women wrestlers so that they can wrestle safely. That’s why I was at Jantar Mantar and I’m here.”
Phogat’s journey to this Olympic final has been unconventional. According to reports, after failing to make it to her usual 53kg category, she moved to the 50kg category to qualify for her third consecutive Olympics.
Irrespective of the result of the gold medal match on Wednesday, Phogat’s stellar performance has already created history and has served to inspire India’s young wrestlers.