New Delhi: Vinesh Phogat has already scripted history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by going where no Indian woman ever has. She became the first female wrestler from the country to reach an Olympic final on Tuesday after enjoying a dream run in the 50kg freestyle category. She now stands on the cusp of creating more history as she eyes her maiden gold medal at the Olympics.
Vinesh has a chance to become the first-ever Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics. She will take on USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the final of the women’s freestyle 50kg category on Wednesday and will be hoping to continue her stellar streak at the Paris Games.
It has been some journey for Vinesh, who not too long ago, was spearheading the wrestlers’ protest against tainted ex- Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on the streets of Delhi and now stands one win away from securing a historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh along with her fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik led the protests for over 15 months.
The protests saw the wrestlers face the tyranny of the system and get dragged on the streets of the national capital as they found little support from India’s sporting fraternity. From nearly immersing her medals in the holy Ganga to fighting and excelling in her battles both on and off the mat, Vinesh has come a long way and is responding to her critics in the only way she knew – with her performances.
Not for myself, I am fighting for the future generation of wrestlers: Vinesh told Bajrang
Bajrang, who led the protests against Brij Bhushan alongside Sakshi and Vinesh over allegations of sexual assault against the former WFI chief, revealed what the 29-year-old trailblazer had told him before leaving for the Paris Olympics 2024. Bajrang recalled Vinesh’s words after she stormed into the final of the 50kg freestyle category.
“She told me ‘I am fighting for the future generation of wrestlers. Not for myself, my career is done and this is my last Olympics. I want to fight for the young women wrestlers who will come and fight for them so that they can wrestle safely. That’s why I was in Jantar Mantar, and that’s why I am here’,” Bajrang told ESPN.
On Tuesday, Vinesh started her amazing streak at the Paris Olympics with a sensational victory against defending Olympic champion and 4-time world champion Yui Susaki of Japan. Vinesh ended the Japanese’s unbeaten streak of 82 matches to beat her 3-2 in the pre-quarters and move to the next round. It was a stunning victory for Vinesh, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets at the Paris Olympics.
The Indian continued her stellar run in the quarter-final where she defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5 to ease into the semi-final. In the semi-final, Vinesh was up against Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba and registered a dominant victory by a 5-0 margin to storm into the final. She will now take the mat in the final on Wednesday in a bid to become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal for India in wrestling at the Olympics.
As Vinesh Phogat stands on the cusp of making history at the Paris Olympics 2024, her fellow wrestler and comrade Bajrang Punia revealed what she told him before heading to Paris. Vinesh will be looking to become India’s first female wrestler to win a gold medal at the Olympics when she takes on USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the final of the women’s 50kg freestyle category. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
