Vinesh Phogat grabbed headlines on Tuesday with two remarkable victories at the Paris 2024 Olympics, bringing her tantalisingly close to her first Olympic medal. This moment marks a full circle for Vinesh, who was prominently involved in last year’s protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and after two disappointing outings at Olympics (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).
Historic win over Yui Susaki
Phogat’s campaign at the Paris Games began on a historic note as she triumphed over top seed and Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the women’s 50kg freestyle round of 16.
The Tokyo gold medallist and four-time world champion Susaki had never lost in her 82 international bouts until she faced Vinesh, who handed her a shocking 2-3 defeat.
Progress to Semi-Finals
Following her victory over Yui Susaki, Vinesh Phogat overcame former European champion and 2018 World Championship bronze medallist Oksana Livach with a 7-5 score in the quarterfinals. Vinesh now stands just one win away from securing her maiden Olympic medal, with her semi-final set to take place later today.
Vinesh Phogat: Wrestling Trailblazer
Career Highlights
- First Indian woman to win gold at both Commonwealth and Asian Games.
- Only Indian woman wrestler with multiple World Championship medals.
- First Indian athlete nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards.
- Defeated reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki at the Paris Olympics.
Family Background
- Comes from a renowned wrestling family.
- Cousins Geeta and Babita Phogat are also accomplished wrestlers.
- Family faced societal pressure for allowing women to pursue wrestling.
Notable Achievements for Vinesh Phogat
- Commonwealth Games: Gold medal in 2014.
- Asian Games: Gold medal in 2018.
- World Championships: Bronze medals in 2019 and 2022.
- Asian Championships: Silver medal in 2015.
- Overcame career-threatening knee injury.
- Led protests against sexual harassment in Indian wrestling.
Personal Life of Vinesh
- Married fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee in 2018.
Overcoming Olympic heartbreaks
The 29-year-old wrestler has endured two previous Olympic heartbreaks, but her resilient spirit has brought her to the brink of Olympic glory in Paris.
Vinesh’s journey to this point has been marked by significant challenges, including leading a protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers. The protests saw wrestlers, including Vinesh, being detained while marching towards Parliament in May.
Support from fellow athletes
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, who stood alongside Vinesh during the protests, took to social media to praise her recent achievements and remind the public of her struggles.
“Vinesh Phogat is the lioness of India who won back-to-back matches today. She defeated the four-time World Champion and defending Olympic champion, then overcame the former World Champion in the quarterfinals. But let me tell you one thing, this girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. She was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world, but she lost to the system in this country,” Bajrang wrote in a post on X.
Family’s Pride and Hopes
Legendary Indian wrestler Mahavir Phogat, Vinesh’s uncle, expressed his optimism and pride in her achievements. “The country had great expectations from her during the 2016 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But this time, I am very confident that Vinesh will fulfil my dream of a gold medal. She defeated a top Japanese wrestler in the first round,” Mahavir told ANI.
Vinesh Phogat’s journey from tears in Rio to becoming a favourite for gold in Paris is a testament to her resilience and determination, making her a true inspiration for aspiring athletes across India.
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