Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat secured the gold medal in the women’s 50kg category at the Grand Prix of Spain.
The two-time World Championship bronze medalist faced off against Mariia Tiumerekova in the final, triumphing with a score of 10-5. Notably, Mariia, a former Russian wrestler, now competes as an Individual Neutral Athlete.
Vinesh’s journey to the gold was marked by three decisive victories. She began by defeating Pan American champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba with a score of 12-4. In the quarterfinals, she pinned down Madison Parks of Canada, a silver medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The semifinals saw another victory for Vinesh, this time against Canadian wrestler Katie Dutchak, with a score of 9-4.
Despite receiving her Schengen visa at the eleventh hour, Vinesh’s determination propelled her to success. Following her training and competition stint in Spain, she is set to embark on a 20-day training program in France, gearing up for the Paris Games.
Earlier, Vinesh Phogat secured an Olympic quota in the women’s 50kg category during the Asian Olympic qualifiers. Her dominant performance against Kazakhstan’s Laura Ganikyzy resulted in a 10-0 victory within 4 minutes and 18 seconds. Now, she faces Aktenge Keunimjaeva of Uzbekistan in her quest for Olympic glory.
Also Read: PM Modi To Visit Russia Tomorrow; Kremlin Expects Comprehensive Talks
