Bajrang Punia calls Vinesh Phogat ‘lioness of India’ after stunning victories at Paris Olympics

New Delhi: Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, on Tuesday, described fellow grappler Vinesh Phogat as the ‘lioness of India’ after she entered her maiden Olympic semifinals with stunning victories in Paris. The 29-year-old made the country proud after stunning defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan and Oksana Livach of Ukraine to march into the women’s 50kg semifinals.

Punia took to social media handle X to congratulate Phogat for the notching up back-to-back wins at the premier event.

Vinesh is lioness of India, says Punia

“Vinesh Phogat is the lioness of India who won back to back matches today. Defeated 4-time World Champion and defending Olympic champion. After that he defeated the former World Champion in the quarterfinals,” Punia wrote on his ‘X’ handle.

Punia, Vinesh and Sakshi Malik had led a long sit-in protest in Delhi early last year against alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Punia added that Vinesh was crushed in her own country last year and she is on the verge of conquering the world.

“But let me tell you one thing. This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country This girl was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country,” he added.

Vinesh defeated Livach, a former European champion and 2018 world championship bronze-medallist, 7-5 in a hard-fought quarterfinal bout to get closer to an elusive Olympic medal in her third attempt. This was after she caused the biggest wrestling upset in the ongoing Games when she shocked four-time world champion and reigning gold-medallist Yui Susaki of Japan on points in the pre-quarterfinals.

Later in the evening, Vinesh will be up against Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the last-four stage. A win will assure her of at least a silver while a loss will take her into the bronze medal playoff.

Full Coverage of Paris Olympics 2024

Know All About Paris Olympics 2024 Players

 Vinesh Phogat registered back-to-back wins on Tuesday to march into the semifinals at the Paris Olympics 2024. This was Vinesh’s maiden semifinal entry.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today