India’s Vinesh Phogat stuns Olympic 50KG wrestling champion Susaki in Paris Games opener

By: Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press Posted: 11:09 AM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 Last Modified: 2:23 PM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024

Advertise with us

PARIS (AP) — India's Vinesh Phogat stunned four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan with a late takedown to claim a 3-2 decision in their opening match in the 50-kilogram division at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/08/2024 (397 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PARIS (AP) — India’s Vinesh Phogat stunned four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan with a late takedown to claim a 3-2 decision in their opening match in the 50-kilogram division at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Susaki, the seemingly unbeatable top seed in Paris, won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago without conceding a point.

Phogat didn’t stop after upsetting Susaki. She won her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5, then won her semifinal against Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 to become the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final.

Japan's Yui Susaki and India's Vinesh Vinesh, left, compete in the round of 16 of the women's freestyle 50kg wrestling match, at Champ-de-Mars Arena, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Phogat will wrestle American Sarah Hildebrandt for the gold medal on Wednesday. Hildebrandt defeated Mongolia’s Otgonjargal Dolgorjav 5-0 in the other semifinal.

It’s been quite a journey for Phogat. She tore an anterior cruciate ligament during her Olympic quarterfinal in 2016 and was taken out on a stretcher. She had never placed higher than ninth at the Olympics or third at a world championship event.

Because Phogat reached the final, Susaki has a chance to fight for a bronze medal through repechage. She will face Livach on Wednesday.