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- By Ridhi Suri
- Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:12 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vinesh Phogat's groundbreaking victory in the women's wrestling 50kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics has sparked widespread acclaim, drawing attention to her historic achievement. Defeating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez with a commanding 5-0 score, Phogat secured her place in the Olympic final, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to achieve this milestone. Scheduled for Wednesday, August 7, Phogat will compete for the gold medal against USA's Sarah Hildebrandt in what promises to be an eagerly anticipated match at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Following Vinesh Phogat's historic victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, numerous Bollywood celebrities lauded her achievement with congratulations. However, given her prominent role in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year, actress Kangana Ranaut took a dig at Phogat. Posting a photo of Vinesh on her Instagram Stories, Kangana attributed her win to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She wrote, "Fingers crossed for India’s first Gold Medal… Vinesh Phogat at one point took part in protests where she raised the slogans of ‘Modi teri Kabr khudegi.’"
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"Yet she was given the opportunity to represent the nation and receive the best training, coaches, and facilities. This is the beauty of democracy and the mark of a great leader," the actress added. Phogat protested against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom she and other wrestlers accused of sexual harassment. Among those standing alongside her were Bajrang Punia, who won bronze at the 2020 Olympics, and Sakshi Malik, India's first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal, bronze at the 2016 Games.
Vinesh Phogat's historic victory
Her journey to the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics was nothing short of remarkable. It began with a stunning upset victory over Japan's Yui Susaki, the world number one and defending champion, in the Round of 16. This win was historic as Susaki had not been defeated in international competition since the Tokyo 2020 Games. Phogat continued her impressive run by narrowly defeating Ukraine's Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals.
Vinesh secured two consecutive impressive victories to advance to the semi-finals. Apart from defeating Yui Susaki, she also triumphed over Oksana Livach, the eighth seed from Ukraine, in the quarter-finals. Despite quarter-final exits at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Phogat's perseverance and skill have now led her to the pinnacle of Olympic competition.