How Vinesh Phogat’s coach Woller Akos’ change of strategy helped her beat Japan’s Yui Susaki at the Olympics

In the first round of the 50kg category at the Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat pulled off the upset of all upsets when she beat Yui Susaki, the Japanese wrestler with a 82-0 international record. After staving off a dangerous leg attack in the first round and conceding two penalty points for passivity, Vinesh went on the offensive in the last few seconds to defeat the legend.

Vinesh said that the credit for the win over Yui Susaki must go to her coach Woller Akos because he is the one who asked her to take a relook at her initial strategy, which was to go for an all-out attack.

The way Coach Woller understands me, I don’t think any other coach can. Till the eve of the bout against Susaki, my plan was different from what the coach had in mind. My plan was to attack. I had decided in my head that I would attack and then she would attack. Chhay minute tak jiska dam jyada hoga, nikal jayegi (Whoever is stronger in the six minutes, she will win),” Vinesh told The Indian Express.

On the day of Vinesh bout against Susaki, the coach took her aside and told her that she was making a mistake if she went on the offensive against the Japanese legend.

“On match day when I was ready, the coach got everyone out of the room assigned for India. Then he asked me what my plan was? I said ‘attack’. He told me this will be your biggest mistake. He said ‘you should not attack and, importantly, you should not let Susaki attack.’ Coach Akos told me that nobody can beat a top Japanese wrestler by attacking.”

The coach’s strategy that ultimately paid off was to ensure that Susaki didn’t get more than two points and then ensure in the last few 30 seconds of the bout. The coach also told her it was ok to concede points because of passivity.

“The coach told me that to beat someone like Susaki, there is only one way — keep her down to one or two points. And keep it like that till almost the end. In the last 30 seconds, the coach told me I should give my best performance. Do what I can to attack, push, pull… but attack in those last 30 seconds only,” Vinesh said, adding that she didn’t have to worry about Susaki attacking the body.

“Susaki’s main target is the leg. Japanese wrestlers don’t generally attack the upper body. They strengthen their position using the upper body but their target is the lower body. I didn’t have to worry about an upper body attack where she would execute a throw or a dhobi.”

However, Susaki is known to put her opponents under pressure by attacking. In the final few minutes of the first session Susaki had tried to attack, targeting the legs but Vinesh fending it off. This was a crucial moment.

“The coach told me that I will concede the first point because of passivity. And if I keep defending, I will be docked again for passivity. (Vinesh conceded a point in each of the rounds after being put on the passivity clock). He told me not to be under pressure even if I give away points for passivity, but not to concede more than two points. The key was to keep an eye on the clock to note when it came down to the last 30 seconds. The coach told me ‘you are an experienced wrestler’ and that I will be able to do that. He said he would also try and alert me about the clock.”

After beating Susaki, Vinesh reached the final in the 50kg category. However, she was found to be 100 grams overweight during the second weigh in on the morning of the final and was disqualified and had to return without a medal.

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