Vinesh Phogat Enters Maiden Olympic Semi-final by Defeating Defending Champion Yui Susaki, Ukrainian Oksana Livach
Moneylife Digital Team 06 August 2024
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat entered her maiden Olympic semi-finals in the 50kg category. On Tuesday, the Dangal girl notched stunning victories over defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan and higher-ranked Ukrainian Oksana Livach.
 
The 29-year-old 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.
 
During the match, Vinesh was trailing 0-1 but turned the tide in her favour in the final 30 seconds with a 2-pointer. The Indian wrestler was defensive in most of the match but she applied herself fully in the latter stage to clinch a victory at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.
 
Notably, since 2010, Susaki has lost only five bouts.
 
Susaki is the reigning world champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist. She is the undisputed queen in the women's 50kg freestyle and won the gold medal in Tokyo without dropping a single point.
 
On the other hand, this is the third Olympics for Vinesh. In 2016 Rio Olympics, she narrowly missed a bronze medal due to an injury. In Tokyo, she lost to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the 53kg quarterfinal.
 
Earlier, Vinesh participated in 48kg and 53kg categories. This year, however, she is participating in 52kg category for the first time.
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