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Paris Olympics: Vinesh Phogat Storms Into Wrestling Final, Sets Sight On Gold

Currently, India is at the 60th spot in the medal tally, with three bronze.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Paris: India's Vinesh Phogat and Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman Lopez (in blue) compete in the Women's Freestyle 50kg semi-final wrestling match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)</p></div>
Paris: India's Vinesh Phogat and Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman Lopez (in blue) compete in the Women's Freestyle 50kg semi-final wrestling match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final in Olympics as she defeated Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-final of the freestyle 50 kg event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday night.

Phogat defeated Lopez 5-0 in the match, guaranteeing India of at least a silver medal. The final is on Wednesday night against USA's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, who won bronze in Tokyo 2020.

Earlier in the day, the 29-year-old had defeated Oksana Livach of Ukraine 7-5 in the quarter final. She also stunned reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the Round of 16 in a dramatic match.

In her last two Olympic appearances, Phogat had failed to win a medal. As of date, India has won seven medals in wrestling at the Olympics, with Sakshi Malik being the only woman to bag a medal. She had won bronze in Rio 2016.

Currently, India is at the 60th spot in the medal tally, with three bronze.

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