Vinesh Phogat failed to qualify for the reunion that would have given her a chance for bronze as Belarusian Vanesa Kaladzinskaya failed to reach the 53kg final. Vinesh returns with it from a second Olympiad in a row without a medal.
Vinesh was the top seed in the 53kg category. (AP photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Vinesh missed the Hope Loop after Kadzinskaya failed to make the final
- Vinesh was the top seed in the women’s 53kg category and one of the favorites to win gold
- Vinesh could not break free from the Belarusian headlock
Star wrestler Vinesh Phogat returns from the Tokyo Olympics without a medal. Vinesh, who is top seeded in the women’s 53kg category at the Games, missed the hopes after Belarusian Vanesa Kaladzinskaya lost her semi-final bout to Chinese Qianyu Pang.
Vinesh would have had a chance for the bronze medal if Kaladzinskaya had reached the final. The 26-year-old beat Kaladzinskaya in Ukraine earlier this year. The reigning European champion implemented her strategy perfectly, however, as Vinesh couldn’t find a way to break free from the Belarusian’s headlock.
Vinesh couldn’t bring Kaladzinskaya to her knees when she got behind her opponent. The Belarusian showed immense strength to keep her legs straight. The 26-year-old Indian used all her strength, but Kaladzinskaya’s defense did not crumble. The famous double-leg attack that Vinesh used to position himself to hold on to their rivals also failed to score.
Before this fight, Vinesh had defeated the Olympic bronze and six-time world medalist Sofia Mattsson with a sovereign 7-1 victory. Vinesh was also one of the favorites for a medal at the Rio Games, but an injury to China’s Sun Yanan in the quarter-finals ended her season.
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