Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat beat Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the Women's Freestyle 50kg Semifinal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 6 (Tuesday) to become the first Indian Woman wrestler to reach Olympic final. Her win has guaranteed India of a silver medal.
Phogat had advanced to the semi-finals of the women's 50kg wrestling event after defeating Ukraine's Oksana Livach 7-5. Earlier, Phogat pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Paris Olympics on August 6, by defeating reigning champion Yui Susaki of Japan. The Indian wrestler won 3-2 against the top seed in the Round of 16, advancing to the quarter-finals of the women's 50kg category.
Vinesh 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.
Vinesh Phogat Recovered From An ACL Tear To Head To Paris
It wasn't an easy journey for Phogat who had undergone a surgery after suffering an Anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) tear. At one stage it looked unlikely that Phogat would be fit in time to compete in Paris.
ALSO READ | When Is Neeraj Chopra Final In Paris Olympics 2024?
However, she recovered quickly in time to not only compete but is now one step away from becoming the first Indian female wrestler to clinch a gold medal. After medals in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, an assured medal has already elevated her status as one of the finest feamle athletes from the country.