Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat delivered a standout performance in her Paris Olympics debut by defeating top seed and Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the women's 50kg freestyle round of 16 on Tuesday. Susaki led 1-0 at the end of the first period, but Phogat turned the match around decisively in the second period, securing a 3-2 victory. Phogat will face 2019 European Champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarterfinals, according to Olympics.com. Susaki, a three-time world champion and current Asian champion, was a formidable opponent.
Meanwhile, Nisha Dahiya’s Olympic campaign concluded on Monday after a loss to North Korea's Pak Sol Gum in the women’s 68kg quarterfinals. Dahiya, who led 8-2 at one point, succumbed to an injury and medical timeouts, allowing Sol Gum to come back and win 8-10. Dahiya had previously defeated Tetiana Sova 6-4 in the round of 16.
The Paris Olympics features six Indian wrestlers from August 5 to 11. Besides Phogat, Antim Panghal, a bronze medalist from the Asian Games, will make her Olympic debut in the women's 53kg category. Other debutants include Commonwealth Games silver medallist Anshu Malik (women’s 57kg) and U-23 world champion Reetika Hooda (women’s 76kg). Aman Sehrawat, an Asian Games bronze medallist, will represent India in men's freestyle wrestling at 57kg.
India has won seven wrestling medals at the Olympics, including two silver and five bronze.