Watch: Vinesh Phogat's coach in tears as star grappler makes historic final at Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: Tears of joy streamed down the face of Vinesh Phogat's foreign coach Woller Akos as she made history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympic final.

In a tense 50kg semifinal match, Vinesh delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, securing at least a silver medal for India.

Vinesh has been honing her skills under the guidance of Hungarian coach Woller Akos since 2018. During her training camp in Hungary, she focused on refining her technique, working to correct minor flaws in her game.

Previously, as a competitor in the lower weight categories, she was particularly susceptible to swift attacks, but her training under Akos has helped address those vulnerabilities.

Tuesday's victory was deeply moving for Vinesh and her coach, who was visibly emotional and shed tears of joy for his protege.

Watch:


The semis bout began cautiously, with Vinesh earning a technical point due to a passivity clock on Lopez.

Leading 1-0 at the end of the first period, Vinesh extended her dominance in the second, scoring four more points to clinch the win. Her coach, overcome with emotion, couldn’t hold back tears as Vinesh sealed her place in the final.

The journey to the historic moment was anything but easy.

Earlier, Vinesh triumphed over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan and Ukraine's eighth seed Oksana Livach, showcasing her determination and skill. The victory was particularly poignant given her past disappointments—quarterfinal exits in both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

For her coach, who had invested years in shaping Vinesh's journey, the win was the culmination of relentless hard work and belief.

As the final whistle blew, signalling Vinesh’s victory, the coach's tears reflected not just the joy of the moment but the struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering faith that had led them to this historic achievement.