Vinesh Phogat causes social media stir: 'India is built on the backs of women like Vinesh Phogat'

Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were the first to congratulate Vinesh Phogat on social media as the former stormed into the wrestling semi-finals at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday. Vinesh, who prefers to compete in the 53kg category, was pushed down to 50kg due to Antim Panghal winning the 53kg quota.

Despite being forced to change her category, Vinesh Phogat stunned reigning Olympic champion and four-time world championship gold medallist Yui Susaki of Japan 3-2 in the Round of 16 bout before stunning Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5 to reach the semi-finals .

Paris Olympics 2024: Day 11 LIVE Updates

This is the first time Phogat has managed to reach the semi-finals at the Olympics and will take on Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman Lopez in the last-four contest at 9.45 PM IST on Tuesday.

Phogat had beaten multiple odds to reach the semi-finals in the Olympics.

Besides changing her category and taking on the number one seed in the first match, Phogat also battled a huge fight against former Wrestling Federation of India  (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by protesting on the streets along with Bajrang and Sakshi, leading to the politician being formally charged with sexual harassment, stalking, outraging the modesty of women, and criminal intimidation by a Delhi Court earlier this year.

After Phogat’s sensational wins created a stir on social media, Bajrang and Sakshi praised the wrestler while many others recalled her struggle during the wrestlers’ protests last year.

Here are some of the reactions:

“Well done @Phogat_Vinesh. Beat the Olympic defending champion in a fascinating bout,” Sakshi wrote on X.

Vinesh Phogat is also the first wrestler to beat Yui Susaki in an international match, bringing an end to the Japanese’s 82-0 record.