Vinesh Phogat has secured India’s fourth medal at Paris 2024 Olympics after defeating Guzman Lopez of Cuba in the semifinals of 50kg Freestyle Wrestling Category by a convincing 5-0 margin.
Earlier in the day, the star 29-year-old wrestler from Haryana stunned the wrestling world by ousting Olympic champion Yui Susaki and then defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach to storm into the semifinals.
Phogat will now compete against American wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt in the final on Thursday.
Completes Comeback Arc
Hailing from the storied Phogat wrestling family, Vinesh has faced a series of formidable challenges on her path to the Olympics. In 2023, Phogat’s journey was hit by adversities for long bouts, including a well-documented protest against the national wrestling federation chief, confrontations with the police and knee surgery.
On January 18, Phogat, alongside fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and others, staged a protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against then WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Despite the hurdles, Phogat remained resolute, ultimately succeeding in the rigourous Olympic qualification process.
During 2016 Rio Olympics, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear almost brought curtains down on her wrestling journey.
But despite Rio setback and WFI controversy, Phogat achieved full fitness ahead of the Paris Olympics, competing in multiple weight categories and securing her spot. She now holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for three consecutive Olympic Games.
Phogat is the first Indian woman to win gold medals at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Additionally, she has secured multiple medals at the World Wrestling Championships.
