Young wrestler Vinesh Phogat has done it again for India! A confident Vinesh took on Japan's Yuki Irie in the final 6-2 and clinched a gold medal in the 50 kg freestyle at the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia today.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat wins a gold medal in 50kg freestyle at #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/zWESnOO5Hs
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2018
Earlier, she had put up a brilliant show in the semi final and assured India of at least a silver medal. She stormed into the finals of the women's freestyle 50 kilogram category at the 2018 Asian Games earlier today Monday.
With this win, Vinesh becomes the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal in the Asian Games 2018, beating Yuki Irie 6-2.
Avenging a heart-breaking loss at the Olympics two years ago, Vinesh won against Chinese Yanan Sun in the semi-final. However, Sakshi Malik disappointed as she lost the 62 kg wrestling at the ongoing games.
Same Opponents..Very contrasting results!Vinesh Phogat Vs Sun Yanan
— Indian Sports Fan! (@SportsFan_India) August 20, 2018
Pic1 :Olympic 2016
Pic2: Asian Games 2018
Those few secs today where Vinesh looked like she had leg cramps brought tears in my eyes.. And then the manner in which she pulled the victory! Hats-off! #VineshPhogat pic.twitter.com/T8hTGBCOcw
Watch the gold winning video here:
Proud moments coming in from Indonesia #AsianGames2018 Vinesh Phogat strikes GOLD 🥇for INDIA 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/E44jobUBJa
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 20, 2018
All praise for the coach
“He is a world class coach. I wish he can be with me in India as my personal trainer. I was looking for someone like him. I have trained for about 20 days with him in Hungary and he has nicely picked where I need to do better. He is happy with my performance so far and preparing me for gold at Asian Games,” said Vinesh about coach Woller Akos, Hindustan Times reported.
Vinesh is a gold medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, winner of a bronze at the Asian Games 2014 and a silver at the Asian Championships in 2015.
Congratulations messages have been pouring in on social media sites:
Congratulations Vinesh Phogat @Phogat_Vinesh on winning Gold Medal for #India in 50 kg freestyle wrestling at #AsianGames2018 We are all proud of your achievement.
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) August 20, 2018
Vinesh Phogat just avenged her heartbreaking loss and subsequent knee injury in the Olympic quarterfinals against China’s Sun Yanan in the pre quarterfinal of the Asian Games. She beats the Rio bronze medalist and former world champion 8-2 pic.twitter.com/1G1mCqzesY
— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) August 20, 2018
A second GOLD MEDAL for India at #AsianGames2018
— DNA (@dna) August 20, 2018
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat thrashes Japan's Yuki Irie 6-2 in women's freestyle 50Kg final, becomes FIRST Indian woman wrestler to clinch an Asiad gold. You go, girl! #AsianGames pic.twitter.com/zsm2yqryCQ
#GoldenGirl @Phogat_Vinesh ?#TeamIndia's #VineshPhogat brings home the second Gold for India as defeated Japanese #IrieYuki in the Women's 50kg Freestyle Wrestling final by 4-2 at the #AsianGames2018 #Congratulations #VineshPhogat ???#IAmTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/RSc3Uyc110
— Team India (@ioaindia) August 20, 2018
Congratulations @Phogat_Vinesh on winning Gold in the 50kg free-style category. Golden Girl we are so Proud of you. #VineshPhogat #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/osjSf44uR8
— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) August 20, 2018
Before heading off to the Asian Games, she bagged gold at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid in July. Vinesh won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle 50kg category and dominated the stage, conceding just one point in five bouts. Vinesh also won gold medals in Gold Coast Commonwealth Games this year.
We’re proud of you!
Picture credit: TOI