Vinesh Phogat does the impossible in 1st round – takes down unbeatable giant Yui Susaki

Vinesh Phogat did what is perceived as impossible in the wrestling world – she took down Japan’s unbeatable champion Yui Susaki 3-2 in the first round of the Women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics. Susaki had never lost an international match until that very moment – one which ended with Vinesh slumped to the ground, tears rolling down her eyes – contrasted to the Japanese, who was in the midst of a seismic shock, one that reflected on her disbelieving face.

An undefeated champion, the current World Champion, the Tokyo gold medallist who won at her home country without dropping a single point – Susaki might be 50 kilos but when it comes to women’s wrestling, the 25-year-old is a giant.

But Phogat is known to take down giants. Go back to the 2018 Asian Games and she was right there, defeating Japan’s Yuki Irie, incidentally one of the few people in the world that have defeated Yui Susaki. Now Phogat joins that list, upsetting the women’s freestyle wrestling world order that Japan continues to pursue.

It was a subdued start from both wrestlers. Phogat came in as an overwhelming underdog – and so does everyone in the 50 kg category. But the Indian’s start was calculated. She chose not to expend any energy at the start and instead was docked a passivity point in the first period. Just when it seemed like Susaki was happy with a point in the first period, the Japanese wrestler swept in for a takedown but her attempt was easily stuffed by Vinesh, who simply sprawled herself and kept her legs out of the reach of her opponent’s probing arms.

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The second period was a lot more of the same, initially. Both wrestlers constantly locked arms but showed no inclination of going for a takedown. Phogat was docked another passivity point soon after and the score read 2-0.

At this point, it must have seemed to Susaki that Phogat was attempting to keep her energy for the repechage rounds. But the Indian had other plans and landed a late attack on the 2023 World Champion. It was a quick lunge at Susaki’s upper body, one that the Japanese tried to evade by stepping out of bounds. But Vinesh lept on and then hung on. After a referral, the referee raised the Indian’s hand and the mission to upset the star of the famed women’s Japanese wrestling programme was accomplished.

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