Tokyo 2020, wrestling: Vinesh Phogat starts against Olympic bronze-medallist Sofia Mattsson
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat could face former world champion Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the quarters.
India’s Vinesh Phogat will begin her quest for an Olympic medal against Sofia Magdalena Mattsson of Sweden in the women’s 53kg at Tokyo 2020 on Thursday.
Vinesh Phogat, who is unbeaten in 2021, is the top seed at the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 53kg. Sofia Mattsson won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is a former world and European champion.
If she wins the bout, Vinesh Phogat could be up against Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the quarter-finals later in the day.
Kaladzinskaya is a former world champion and was European champion in 2020.
The Round of 16 through to the semi-finals of the women’s 53kg freestyle wrestling will be held on Thursday, with the repechage, bronze match and the final scheduled on Friday.
The 26-year-old Vinesh Phogat is a two-time Commonwealth Games champion and has also won gold at the 2018 Asian Games. She won bronze in the 2019 world championships to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
Vinesh is considered a medal favourite at Tokyo 2020.