Paris 2024 wrestling: Vinesh Phogat shocks Olympic champion en route to historic final

Vinesh Phogat defied huge odds to assure herself of a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by reaching the final in the women’s 50kg wrestling event on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Vinesh Phogat also became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final in wrestling. Sakshi Malik, the only other woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India, had clinched a bronze medal at Rio 2016.

Vinesh stormed into the women’s 50kg final on the back of three stunning wins. She defeated reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba in the semi-finals after getting the better of former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarter-finals.

In her opening match, Vinesh Phogat pulled off a colossal upset against the reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan.

In the semi-final, both Vinesh and Yusneylis started defensively but the Indian wrestler was awarded a point for Yusneylis’s passivity and ended the first period with a slender one-point lead.

Both wrestlers continued to be on guard at the start of the second period. However, Vinesh, in danger of conceding a point on passivity, executed two takedowns to lead 5-0. Vinesh held on to her lead in the final 30 seconds to make it the final of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

On Wednesday, Vinesh will take on USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist for the gold medal.

Vinesh Phogat stuns Olympic champion Yui Susaki

Earlier, Phogat, who had to cut down weight to compete in the 50kg category for Paris 2024, registered the biggest win of her career by defeating Yui Susaki 3-2 in the opening round.

Yui Susaki, a three-time world champion in the 50kg category, was unbeaten in international competitions with an 82-0 record before losing to Vinesh. The Japanese wrestler is also a former world champion in the 48kg and a two-time Asian champion.

Vinesh displayed a strategic and patient approach throughout her bout against Yui Susaki. The Japanese wrestler launched aggressive attacks from the start but Vinesh expertly dodged each move with remarkable speed. Vinesh was penalised for passivity but trailing only 1-0 against the reigning Olympic champion by the end of the first period was a positive outcome.

In the second period, Vinesh stuck to her defensive plan and neutralised all of Susaki’s attacks. She conceded another passivity point but with just seven seconds left, flipped Susaki and forced her onto the mat for two points. Susaki challenged the decision but the judges ruled against her and awarded Vinesh an extra point.

In the quarter-finals, Phogat defeated Ukraine's Oksana Livach 7-5. Vinesh executed a crucial takedown in the first period and led her opponent for the most part. The Ukrainian wrestler reduced the gap in the second period but Vinesh secured four points in the final 20 seconds to clinch a massive victory.

Phogat featured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 53kg division but had to make way for an in-form Antim Panghal in the category after struggling with injuries. At Rio 2016, Phogat competed in the women’s 48kg.

India have won a total of seven medals - two silvers and five bronze - in wrestling at the Games. Sushil Kumar, with a bronze at Beijing 2008 and a silver at London 2012, is India’s most successful wrestler at the Olympics. However, it could change if Vinesh Phogat manages to win the gold medal on Wednesday.