Vinesh Phogat dominates 50 kg women’s freestyle to win Gold at Spanish Grand Prix
23-year-old Vinesh Phogat has recently won a gold medal in the 50 kg women’s freestyle category at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid on Sunday (July 15). Phogat faced Canada’s Natasha Fox in the finals where she gave up only one point during her five bouts and won the game comfortably.
Vinesh won most of her matches on the basis of a strong technique, and yesterday's game was no different as she beat her opponent by a 10-point margin. Her tournament began with a crushing 10-0 victory against Mexico’s Mariana Diaz in the qualification round.
USA’s Erin Golston was Phogat’s only opponent to whom she lost a point. Vinesh won her second match by a difference of 11 points (12-1) to enter the quarter-finals. The Haryana wrestler faced Russia’s Valeria Chepsarakova in the next round and the latter too was pinned on the mat as she lost 5-0 to Phogat.
In the semi-finals, Phogat faced a well-known rival from Canada, Jessie Macdonald whom she defeated in Gold Coast in April to win the gold. Sunday was no different as Vinesh won the match with a scoreline of 10-0. Phogat did seem in danger for a moment but, she came back strong with a counter-attack and three takedowns.
In the final, Fox was no match for Vinesh in the finals as she barely survived her opponent’s aggressive play and finally, the mountain was too high for her to climb.
Vinesh is likely to compete at the Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey and will be high on confidence before the Asian Games 2018, post this victory.
