Indian women’s wrestling will have its biggest day when Vinesh Phogat participates in the 50 kg freestyle final, hoping to win a historic maiden gold medal for the country in the Olympic Games on Wednesday 7 Aug. Vinesh, who made history by becoming the first woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics, will take on Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt of the United States on Mat B at the Champ-de-Mars Arena at 9.45 p.m. IST.
Following the victory, which assured India their fourth medal at the Paris Olympics, Phogat seemed to be fully focused on the final against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt.
“Tomorrow is an important day, will talk then,” said Vinesh Phogat to reporters following her encounter showcasing her determination and aim to win India its first-ever gold medal in wrestling.
Her emphatic victory over the Cuban can only be described as a hard-fought encounter with none of the grapplers wanting to give away unnecessary points. Vinesh held off Guzman’s attacks and waited for the perfect opportunity to pounce. One point in the first round and four in the second saw her seal the comfortable victory.
This was Vinesh’s third victory of the day as she earlier defeated World no 1. Japan’s four-time World Champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Yui Susaki in a statement victory, 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinal. It was a stunning win against an opponent who was undefeated in 95 international matches, her entire career as a wrestler.
Vinesh then went on to showcase her attacking prowess alongside her brilliant defensive resilience in the quarterfinal as she overcame Ukraine’s Oksana Vasylivna Livach 7-5 in her second bout of the day, which booked her a spot in the semifinals.
Two Indian male freestyle wrestlers — Sushil Kumar in 2012 and Ravi Dahiya in 2020 Tokyo have reached the final. However, both had to be satisfied with silver medals.
India thus has never won a gold medal in wrestling despite it being their second most successful sport at the Games behind Hockey (12). The country has so far won seven Olympic medals in wrestling — two silver and five bronze medals.
The Indian women’s table tennis team will hope to emulate her stunning wins when it takes on Germany in a quarterfinal even as wrestler Antim Panghal, golfers Aditi Ashok and Disha Dagar, and weightlifting hope Mirabai Chanu get into the act on another crucial day for India at Paris Olympics
All eyes will be on the table tennis team of Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath which will take on the higher-ranked Germany hoping to get into the semifinals. They will get into action at 1.30 p.m. IST.
Aditi Ashok, who narrowly missed the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, along with Diksha will start their campaign in Round 1 of Women’s Individual Stroke Play.
In athletics, hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, high jumper Sarvesh Anil Kushare and triple jumpers Abdulla Narangolintevida and Praveen Chithravel will get into action in the first round of their respective events.
But the biggest event in athletics for India will be the men’s 3000m Steeplechase final in which Avinash Sable will be going for a medal. The final will be held at 01:13 IST on Thursday.
In the evening, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Mirabai Chanu will attempt to win a medal in a second successive Olympics when she gets into action in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting.
India’s full schedule on August 7
11:00 IST – Athletics – Marathon Race Walk Relay Mixed (Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Choudhary)
12:30 IST – Golf – Women’s Individual Stroke Play Round 1 (Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar)
13:30 IST – Table tennis – Women’s Team Quarterfinal (India v Germany)
13:35 IST – Athletics – Men’s High Jump Qualification, (Sarvesh Anil Kushare)
13:45 IST – Athletics – Women’s 100m Hurdles Round 1 (Jyothi Yarraji)
14:30 IST – Wrestling – Women’s Freestyle 53 kg 1/8 Round (Antim Panghal v Zeynep Tetgil (TUR)
21:45 IST – Wrestling – Women’s 50 kg freestyle Final (Vinesh Phogat v Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt)
22:45 IST – Athletics – Men’s Triple Jump Qualification (Abdulla Narangolintevida and Praveen Chithravel)
23:00 IST – Weightlifting — women’s 49 kg (Mirabai Chanu)
01:13 (Thursday) IST – Athletics – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final (Avinash Sable)
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