NEW DELHI: India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat made history by advancing to the final of the women's freestyle 50kg wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics. On Tuesday at Champ-de-Mars Arena Mat B, she defeated Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman with a 5-0 score in the semi-finals. This achievement marks her as the first Indian wrestler to reach the final in women's wrestling at the Olympics, ensuring her at least a silver medal in Paris. This is a significant improvement from her quarter-final exits at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.
Following her historic victory, Vinesh had an emotional video call with her mother, who was overwhelmed with joy and shed tears as Vinesh blew kisses and gave thumbs up to her family.
1/9:Paris Olympics: Vinesh, Neeraj in finals; hockey team suffers heartbreak on Day 11
<p>Paris Olympics: Vinesh, Neeraj in finals; hockey team suffers heartbreak on Day 11</p>PTI
2/9:Harmeet Desai
<p>Harmeet Desai, Sharath Kamal, and Manav Thakkar lost 0-3 to China in the Men's Team Pre-quarterfinal.</p>PTI
3/9:Kishore Jena
<p>Kishore Jena finished ninth with 80.73m in Men's Javelin Throw Qualification Group A. Subsequently, he failed to qualify for the final. </p>PTI
4/9:Vinesh Phogat
<p>Vinesh Phogat stunned top-seed Yui Susaki (Japan) 3-2 in Women's Freestyle 50kg Round of 16.</p>PTI
5/9:Kiran Pahal
<p>Kiran Pahal finished sixth with 52.59s in Women's 400m Repechage Round and failed to qualify for the semis.</p>PTI
6/9:Neeraj Chopra
<p>Neeraj Chopra qualified for the final with 89.34m in Men's Javelin Throw Qualification Group B.</p>PTI
7/9:Eyes on glory
<p>Vinesh Phogat beat Oksana Livach of Ukraine 7-5 in Women's Freestyle 50kg Quarterfinal.</p>PTI
8/9:Final awaits
<p>Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to enter the Olympic final after beating Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba 5-0.</p>PTI
9/9:India's hockey team
<p>India lost 2-3 to Germany in men's hockey semis and would now fight for bronze against Spain.</p>ReutersDuring the call, a tearful Vinesh said, "Gold lana hai! Gold" (I will bring gold).
WATCH:
The semi-final bout began cautiously with both wrestlers. A passivity clock on Guzman led to Vinesh gaining a technical point when the Cuban failed to make a move.
Vinesh held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period and dominated the second period, scoring four additional points to secure her win.
Vinesh’s journey to the semi-finals included impressive victories over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan and Ukraine’s eighth seed Oksana Livach, marking a standout day for the determined Indian grappler.
Throughout her career, Vinesh has won several medals, including three from the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018, and 2022), one gold and one silver at the Asian Games (2018 and 2014), and two bronze medals at the World Championships.
