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Vinesh Phogat stuns top-seeded Yui Susaki to reach women’s freestyle 50kg quarterfinals at Paris 2024

In one of the biggest surprises of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat pulled off a dramatic victory over Japan’s Yui Susaki in the women’s freestyle 50kg category. The match at the Bercy Arena saw Phogat get the better of the reigning Olympic champion and four-time world champion (2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023) 3-2.

Yui Susaki entered the Olympics as the top seed and a dominant force in the 50kg category. She had been unbeaten in international competition, including a flawless run at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she did not concede a single point. Susaki’s record and dominance made her the clear favorite for the gold medal in Paris.


A deeper look at Vinesh Phogat vs Yui Susaki bout at the Paris Olympics

The bout began with both wrestlers adopting a cautious approach. The referee had to intervene, urging them to be more active. Early in the match, Susaki gained the first point due to Vinesh Phogat’s passivity.

As the match progressed, Susaki extended her lead to 2-0 with another point from Phogat’s defensive posture.

With just two minutes remaining, the pressure was on Phogat to make a decisive move. Despite trailing, she maintained her composure and waited for the right moment.

However, the tide turned dramatically in the final moments. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Vinesh launched a powerful attack, successfully executing a takedown that earned her two points, levelling the score at 2-2.

According to wrestling rules, when a match ends in a tie, the wrestler who scored the last points is declared the winner. This crucial factor played in Phogat’s favor.

As the match concluded, the referee raised Vinesh Phogat’s arm, indicating her victory, as celebrations erupted. However, the Japanese team quickly challenged the decision. However, upon review, the officials confirmed Phogat’s win, thus she advanced to the quarterfinals.

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