Vinesh Phogat stuns the wrestling fraternity, beats Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan to enter R16 Olympics in Paris
women’s 50-kilogram match, win in the Round of 16 :- In a stunning turn of events at the Paris Olympics, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat came up with a stunning upset in the Women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling round of 16 by defeating reigning Olympic gold medalist Yui Susaki of Japan. The wrestle was an emotional rollercoaster ride, and Vinesh’s heart-stopping comeback win would end the stellar streak of Susaki not conceding even a single point in her entire Olympic campaign and throughout her international career. This victory of Vinesh comes as a statement of her perseverance and art as it was no easy task when one considers the issues she had before the Games’ commencement. With this win, not only will she get into the quarter-finals but also enter the medal contention.
The Match Breakdown
The bout began with both wrestlers testing each other’s defenses. Vinesh, who had lost precious time off the mat due to her protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan over sexual misconduct allegations, was cautious from the word go. She started with a strategy to unsettle Susaki by pushing her head back, but that resulted in a penalty point against her for passivity as the first round ended.
By the end of a solitary round, Vinesh was down 0-1, and it wasn’t getting any better as she found it tough to get back on her feet against Susaki’s aggressive approach. Not Vinesh’s resolve, though. Down and out for passivity at the start of the second round, she found herself trailing 0-2 to probably the best wrestler in the 50kg class.
Just when all seemed lost for Vinesh, with some seconds left in the match, she pulled off an incredible takedown. This not only earned her three more points but also proved the cliché that remains true: it’s never over until it’s over. In the last few seconds, she first pushed out of the mat Susaki and then did a pin for two more points that changed the direction of the bout.
As the final moments of the match went past, Vinesh raced towards her corner, quite understandably overwhelmed with emotion. She hugged coach Woller Akos and let out a mighty cheer while gesticulating that she had in fact won. There was one more touch of drama, however, as the Japanese team challenged the final decision, and after the review, the point which was awarded to Vinesh for her final move on the mat was upheld to finish with a final score of 3-2 and take her through to the quarterfinals.
The Journey and Struggles of Vinesh
Vinesh’s journey to the Olympics has not been easy. While two disappointing appearances in previous Olympic Games saw her fail to win a medal, her resolve to succeed has only hardened. In the year gone by, however, it has not been easy for her—taking on ‘big guys’ in Indian wrestling, besides facing some major personal and professional trials.
Her work as an advocate and relentless pursuit of justice has only added to the fire that burns deep within her for wrestling. In general, that was all reflected in the performance of Vinesh, who seemed to have an inability to rise above adversity, which made her to have victory against Susaki all the more important.
Next Challenge: Oksana Livach
A few hours later, Vinesh Phogat will be up against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach in the quarter-finals. Livach is a skilful and clever wrestler. That will be a contest to watch out for. Now, she will have to back the momentum from the recently claimed victory and then strategize how to win this one against the other tough contenders.
The very fact that Vinesh overcame Susaki builds big expectations, with a lot of people now pinning such medal hopes on her in these Olympics. Support from fans back home and her will to succeed may just play an important role in her performance during the next round.
Conclusion
Vinesh Phogat’s win against Yui Susaki is not a victory, it is an announcement to the world of resilience, determination, and sporting spirit. By upsetting the applecart of odds and a legendary wrestler in the form of Vinesh, these empathic performances bring a justification for Indian wrestling fans to hold on to their hopes in the wrestling arena at the Paris Olympics. Her quest for the medal means that she will keep wrestling fans on their toes when she locks horns with Oksana Livach in the quarterfinals for what could be yet another breathtaking performance by this likable athlete.
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