2024-07-07 22:59:34
Madrid: Paris Olympics-bound Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat won the women’s 50kg gold medal at the Spain Grand Prix here on Saturday. Two-time World Championship bronze medalist Vinesh defeated Maria Tyumerekova 10-5 in the final to take the first place. Maria, a former Russian player, now plays as a neutral player. Vinesh, who got a Schengen visa at the last minute on Wednesday, won three matches to make it to the final. Vinesh first defeated Cuba’s Yusnelis Guzman 12-4. After this, she defeated Canada’s Madison Parks and in the semi-finals, defeated Canada’s Katie Duchak 9-4. After this, Vinesh will go to France for 20 days of training.
This gold medal won by Vinesh Phogat just before the Paris Olympics will be a great boost for her confidence. The 29-year-old former Asian Games gold medalist will travel to France for a 20-day training stint to prepare for the Paris Games after her training-cum-competition stint in Spain. Born on 25 August 1994, Vinesh Phogat has been in constant controversies for the past one year.
In January 2023, at Jantar Mantar in the country’s capital Delhi, Olympic medalist and world champion Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and other champion wrestlers accused the then Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, after which Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had to resign from his post. In the 2024 general elections, BJP fielded his son in place of him from the Kesarganj Lok Sabha seat.
(with inputs from agencies)