Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has vowed to bring a gold medal home to her mother after securing a historic spot in the women’s freestyle 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics 2024. On Tuesday, August 6, Phogat triumphed over Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman with a 5-0 victory in the semi-final at Champ-de-Mars Arena Mat B.
Phogat’s win marks the first time an Indian woman wrestler has qualified for an Olympic final. After her victory, an emotional Phogat shared a video call with her mother, who was visibly overjoyed, shedding tears as Phogat sent flying kisses to her family. In a heartfelt moment, Phogat promised, “Gold lana hai! Gold (I will bring gold).”
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It takes a village – Vinesh PHOGAT 🇮🇳 talking to her mother after becoming the first Indian to reach Olympic final in women’s wrestling#uww #wrestling #wrestleparis #olympics #paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Kh5SDCVR3T
— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) August 6, 2024
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The semi-final saw Vinesh Phogat score first as Guzman failed to score during a 30-second passivity period. Phogat’s aggressive tactics earned her four more points, ensuring a 5-0 win and a place in the final.
With this performance, Phogat has secured India’s fourth medal at the Paris Olympics, setting her sights on a historic gold. Only two Indian wrestlers, Sushil Kumar in 2012 and Vijay Kumar Dahiya in 2020, have previously won silver. Phogat now has the opportunity to become India’s first Olympic wrestling champion. She will face the USA’s Ann Sarah Hildebrandt, who defeated Otgonjargal Dolgorjav 5-0 in the other semi-final.
Following her achievement, congratulations poured in from across the country, including messages from former Olympians Abhinav Bindra, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik.
