Vinesh Phogat of India commenced her campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics with an impressive performance, overcoming the reigning world champion and Olympic gold medallist Yui Susaki from Japan in the Round of 16, followed by a victory over Ukraine’s Oksana Livach, thereby securing her place in the semifinal of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling category. In a remarkable feat, Vinesh handed Susaki her first defeat in international competition, clinching the match 3-2 in the final moments. Building on this significant victory, Vinesh continued her momentum and triumphed over Livach with a score of 7-5 in a closely contested match just 45 minutes later.
Vinesh is now just one victory away from guaranteeing a medal, which would make her the first Indian female wrestler to achieve a silver or gold medal in Olympic wrestling, surpassing Sakshi Malik’s bronze medal achievement at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Nevertheless, should Vinesh falter in the semifinal, she will still have the opportunity to compete for bronze against the winner of the repechage round.
As she entered the arena clad in blue, the match commenced with both competitors engaged in a stalemate, with no significant actions taken in the initial 30 seconds. Susaki made an attempt to seize Vinesh’s right hand, but Vinesh skillfully evaded the maneuver. However, with 90 seconds remaining, Vinesh found herself on the passivity clock, facing a potential penalty if she did not initiate an offensive move within the next 30 seconds.
In a moment of hesitation, Vinesh allowed Susaki to score a point. Shortly thereafter, Susaki attempted a takedown by targeting Vinesh’s right leg, which had undergone surgery the previous year. Nevertheless, Vinesh executed a successful counter, and the first period concluded with Susaki in the lead at 1-0. The second period unfolded similarly, with both competitors entangled for the initial minute. Susaki, a highly skilled wrestler with only three career losses, found it challenging to exploit any weaknesses.
Vinesh was once again placed on the passivity clock, resulting in another point for Susaki, who extended her lead to 2-0 with just over a minute left. However, in a remarkable twist, Vinesh achieved a takedown with less than five seconds remaining, turning the tide to secure victory. Susaki’s challenge of the decision proved unsuccessful. With this unexpected defeat, Susaki’s record, which had only seen three losses since 2015, now stood at four, while Vinesh became the first to blemish Susaki’s impressive record of 82-1.
In the initial moments of the semi-final, as her gear transitioned to red, Vinesh expressed her concerns regarding Livach’s purportedly slippery arms, which complicated the grappling exchanges. A minute into the match, Vinesh took the initiative by executing a well-executed hold and forcefully bringing Oksana to the mat, thereby earning two points.
With just 30 seconds remaining in the first period, Oksana received a warning for passivity, although she was not placed on the clock. Vinesh showcased her dominance during the first three minutes, leading with a score of 2-0. In the second period, Vinesh maintained her momentum by targeting Oksana’s legs and achieving another takedown for an additional two points. Despite being in a favorable position to roll Oksana and increase her lead, the Ukrainian wrestler managed to maintain her stance. Oksana countered with a leg lock, successfully executing a takedown for two points; however, Vinesh swiftly countered with a reversal, regaining one point with under a minute left.
Vinesh then ensnared Oksana in a remarkable arm-bar but was unable to convert this into points. Oksana subsequently pushed Vinesh out of bounds, earning one point and reducing the score to 5-3 in favor of Vinesh with 48 seconds remaining. Vinesh sought a challenge from her coach, Woller, which provided her with a momentary break. Unfortunately, the challenge did not succeed, allowing Oksana to score another point, thus narrowing the score to 5-4. In a dramatic conclusion, Vinesh managed to score four points in a span of 20 seconds, ultimately securing her victory and advancing to the semifinals with a final score of 7-5.
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