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Vinesh Phogat is a win away from an Olympic medal in Paris. In her third appearance at the Olympics, after a rickety road to Paris, the 29-year-old wrestler is close to completing one of the greatest redemption stories in Indian sporting history. The Haryana wrestler finally lived up to the billing at the Games, using all her experience to overcome the first two challenges in Paris on Tuesday, August 6.
Vinesh Phogat stormed into the women's 50 kg category semi-finals after beating Ukraine's Oksana Livach 7-5 in the last-eight round. Vinesh dominated the battle throughout and fended off a late surge from her opponent to inch ever so closer to realising her dream.
However, it was the Round of 16 victory that sent shockwaves in the wrestling community. Vinesh, who had dropped to compete in the 50kg category after her compatriot Antim Panghal took the 53kg category, was drawn against Yui Susaki, one of the greatest modern-day wrestlers from Japan. Yui's statistics went viral on the eve of Vinesh's bout as wrestling fans in India were praying for a moment of magic to overcome the odds, which were heavily stacked against her.
Vinesh Phogat took the mat against Yui Susaki in the morning session at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, knowing she was facing one of the toughest bouts of her life. It was an emotional moment for Vinesh, who faced backlash for being the face of the much-talked-about wrestlers' protests in India last year.
Yui had an international record of 82-0 before she took the mat against Vinesh. Yui did not lose a single point en route to the Gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. The defending champion had just lost three bouts in her entire life.
However, Vinesh Phogat did the unthinkable.
Vinesh Phogat knocked out the reigning champion to script one of the biggest upsets in Olympic wrestling history.
STEELY VINESH EYES ULTIMATE PRIZE
Vinesh did not allow Yui to win points by tackling her throughout the six-minute bout. She did wonderfully well to assess her opponent in the first period. Vinesh conceded a passivity point, but she went into the mid-match break 0-1.
Vinesh was at her defensive best. The Indian wrestler never allowed Yui to go for her legs. If even the Japanese wrestler did, Vinesh used her core strength to perfection to not allow the reigning champion roll her over.
Vinesh conceded another passivity point in the second period. It looked like Yui would walk away with a win in the closely-fought bout. However, Vinesh went for a grapple when only 15 seconds were left in the clock in the final period.
Yui was stunned. Vinesh got two points. Yui challenged. Vinesh was made to wait. The challenge was overturned. Vinesh dropped to the mat and took a moment to soak it all in. All the emotions flowed through as happy tears. Vinesh went and hugged her coach in delight. She pulled off one of the most important and biggest wins of her career.
Vinesh is a win away from realising her dream. The steely determination that was seen in her when she was on the streets of New Delhi is shining through in Paris.
Vinesh will take on Guzman Yusneyiys of Cuba in the semi-final later on Tuesday. A win would vault her into the history books as she would become the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic wrestling final.
