Vinesh Phogat got off to a sensational start at the Paris Olympics 2024, upsetting reigning world champion and Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan in the Round of 16 and then Ukraine’s Oksana Livach to advance to the semifinals of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling.
Vinesh defeated Susaki for the first time in her international career, shocking the top seed in the final five seconds to win 3-2. Vinesh, buoyed by possibly her biggest win of her career, capitalized on it less than 45 minutes later, defeating Livach 7-5 in a much more evenly contested fight.
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One win away from an Olympic medal
Vinesh is one win away from becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win a silver or gold medal at the Olympics, surpassing Sakshi Malik’s bronze medal finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, if Vinesh falters in the semifinals, she can still compete for bronze by facing the winner of the repechage round.
How did Vinesh overcome Sasaki?
Vinesh entered the arena wearing blue. The match began in a standstill, with neither wrestler making any big moves in the first 30 seconds. Susaki attempted to grab Vinesh’s right hand, but Vinesh deftly avoided the attempt. However, with 90 seconds remaining, Vinesh was placed on the passivity clock, which may result in a penalty if she did not execute an attacking move within the following 30 seconds.
Vinesh lost a point against Susaki because she did not make an aggressive move. Susaki then went for a takedown, targeting Vinesh’s right leg, which had been operated in the previous year. Despite this, Vinesh responded quickly, and Susaki led 1-0 after the first stanza.
In a remarkable turn of events, Vinesh earned a takedown with less than five seconds remaining on the clock, reversing the score and winning the match. Susaki challenged the call, but his attempt was unsuccessful. Susaki, who had only lost three fights since 2015, increased her defeat total to four with this stunning loss, as Vinesh became the 1 in Sasaki’s imposing 82-1 record.
