Sports

Vinesh Phogat: India’s Wrestling Heroine Reaches Olympic Final

Ananya Sankhla
Vinesh Phogat Olympic Final

Vinesh Phogat, India’s wrestling queen, scripted history at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympic final. This achievement is a stark contrast to her previous Olympic outings.

Phogat’s journey has been filled with ups and downs. She was stretchered off in her debut at Rio 2016. Tokyo 2020 was equally disappointing. However, Paris 2024 has been a different story altogether.

The Haryana-born wrestler stunned the world by defeating undefeated Japanese grappler Yui Susaki in the Round of 16. This win ended Susaki’s 82-match winning streak. Phogat continued her winning streak by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman in the semifinals, securing at least a silver medal.

Her coach, Woller Akos, was emotional after the win. The Belgian has been a constant support for Phogat. The duo shares a special bond.

Now, Phogat is just one win away from creating history. She will face American Sarah Hildebrandt in the gold medal match.

India is eagerly waiting for the showdown. A gold medal will be the perfect culmination of Phogat’s inspiring journey.

Emotional Celebration and Impressive Performance

Following her win, Phogat’s emotional video call with her mother showcased their deep bond. The wrestler’s unwavering determination to win gold was evident as she declared, “Gold Lana hai! Gold” (I will bring home the gold).

Phogat’s semi-final victory against Guzman was a display of her exceptional skills and strategic prowess. Despite a cautious start, she gradually took control of the match, strategically scoring crucial points to secure victory.

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