On Tuesday, August 6, Vinesh Phogat bagged one of the biggest win at the Paris Olympics by knocking out reigning champion Yui Susaki of Japan. The Indian wrestler defeated the top seed 3-2 in the Round of 16 to advance to the quarter-finals in the women’s 50 kg category.

Before this match, Susaki had never lost in her international career. It was thought to be a tough challenge for Vinesh to get past the first round, especially against the Japanese player who had won gold at the Tokyo Games without losing a single point. However, Vinesh showed great courage and turned the match around.

Vinesh Phogat Makes History In New Weight Class Despite Past Olympic Setbacks

Vinesh is competing in her third Olympics but is challenging in the 50 kg category for the first time, having previously competed in the 53 kg category. After winning the Round of 16 in the women’s 50 kg, she will now advance to the Super-8 and semi-finals.

Vinesh, a World Championship bronze medallist and gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Asian Championship, is one of India’s most successful wrestlers. However, her performance at the Olympic Games has been disappointing.

Vinesh, one of the well-known Phogat sisters, made her Olympic debut in the women’s 48kg freestyle at Rio 2016 but had to withdraw from the quarterfinal due to a serious knee injury. At Tokyo 2020, she was a favorite in the women’s 53kg quarterfinal but lost again in the quarterfinal.

Top seeds for the women’s 50kg wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics:

1. Yui Susaki (Japan)
2. Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (Mongolia)
3. Jiqi Feng (China)
4. Evin Demirhan (Turkey)
5. Alison Cardozo Rey (Colombia)
6. Sarah Hildebrandt (USA)
7. Maria Stadnik (Azerbaijan)
8. Oxana Livach (Ukraine)