NEW DELHI: It won't be wrong to analyse that Vinesh Phogat wrestled the final first before reaching the gold-medal match in the women's 50kg division at the Paris Olympics. Beating Yui Susaki, who had won nothing but gold in her 82-0 unbeaten international career until Tuesday, including the Tokyo Olympics gold, in the pre-quarterfinals was like a reverse draw for Vinesh.
Both Vinesh and Susaki were in disbelief after the final whistle. Vinesh, thumping the mat and then laying flat with tears in her eyes, was perhaps amazed how the almighty scripted her redemption -- from protest on the streets to a clear path to the podium, from getting dragged on the road to taking down the unbeaten, from rehab room post surgery just a year ago to sparring sessions.
