Vinesh Phogat has made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing India’s fourth medal and guaranteeing at least a silver in the women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling category by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinal. This is a landmark achievement, as no Indian female wrestler has won more than a bronze at the Olympics before, with the last being Sakshi Malik in Rio 2016. Phogat, however, is not finished yet; she now has the chance to compete for the gold, which would make her the first Indian wrestler ever to win Olympic gold.
The match began cautiously, with both wrestlers carefully engaging and assessing each other’s tactics. Vinesh employed a patient approach similar to the one she used against Japan’s Yui Susaki, but soon found herself in a difficult position as Lopez locked onto her leg. Despite the hold, Lopez couldn’t capitalize, and after one and a half minutes, neither wrestler had gained an advantage.
As the match continued, Lopez was warned for passivity and put on a passivity clock. When the clock expired, Vinesh took a narrow 1-0 lead with just a minute left in the first round. Lopez made an aggressive attempt to grab Vinesh’s right leg, but Vinesh’s strong defense broke the hold. Though Vinesh was also warned for passivity, she managed to maintain her slim lead.
In the second round, Vinesh went on the offensive, targeting Lopez’s right leg but failing to score, which triggered her own passivity clock. With only 30 seconds to make a move, the pressure was on. Then, in a remarkable turn of events, Vinesh executed a powerful flip, earning two points and extending her lead to five. With a minute and a half remaining, Vinesh had secured her place in Indian wrestling history, ensuring the country’s best medal finish of the Paris 2024 Games.
Earlier in the day, Vinesh stunned the Paris Games by defeating the seemingly invincible Susaki, advancing to the semifinals and inching closer to an Olympic medal. Susaki, a Tokyo gold medallist and four-time World Champion, had an unbeaten streak of 82 international wins, but Vinesh’s tactical brilliance led to a 3-2 victory in the opening bout.
Buoyed by this victory, Vinesh faced Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals. Livach, a former European champion and World Championship bronze medallist, put up a strong fight, but Vinesh emerged victorious with a 7-5 win.
Despite an illustrious career with three Commonwealth Games golds, an Asian Games title, and eight Asian Championship medals, Vinesh had yet to achieve Olympic success in Rio and Tokyo. Her breakthrough in Paris sparked celebrations in the Indian camp and provided relief to other competitors in Susaki’s half of the draw.
The match against Susaki was a testament to Vinesh’s strategic acumen. Both wrestlers began cautiously, with little action in the first 90 seconds. Vinesh was penalized for passivity, giving Susaki the first point. The second period continued in a similar fashion, with Vinesh trailing 0-2 after another passivity penalty.
However, with just 20 seconds remaining, Vinesh seized her moment. She initially failed to grab Susaki’s left leg but quickly capitalized on Susaki’s unstable stance to execute a two-point takedown with only nine seconds left, sealing her victory. Vinesh celebrated emotionally, embracing her coach Woller Akos, while the Japanese corner’s challenge to the points was dismissed.
Vinesh had dropped to the 50 kg class due to Antim Panghal’s qualification in the 53 kg category, facing a physical adjustment but ultimately dominating against Livach. She initially led 4-0 with consecutive takedowns, showcasing both strength and technique. Livach mounted a comeback in the second period, narrowing the gap with a double-leg attack and a push-out point. A failed challenge from Vinesh’s side brought the score to 5-4. With 48 seconds left, Vinesh secured another takedown, ensuring her victory despite Livach scoring once more.
Before the Paris Games, Vinesh had won the Spanish Grand Prix, which, while not featuring top-tier competitors, provided valuable mat time. Her preparation also involved significant activism, as she was a leading figure in protests against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, even spending nights demonstrating at Jantar Mantar.
