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Historic Feat: Vinesh Phogat Becomes First Indian Female Wrestler in Paris Olympic 2024 Final, Celebrities React
In a momentous achievement, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has made history by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This victory marks Phogat as the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the 50 kg freestyle wrestling tournament at the Olympics, guaranteeing her at least a silver medal. Her remarkable performance has not only etched her name in the annals of sports history but has also garnered widespread admiration from Bollywood celebrities.
Rajkummar Rao, Taapsee Pannu, and Randeep Hooda are among the celebrities who took to social media to express their pride and support for Phogat. Rajkummar Rao shared a picture of Phogat from the Olympics on Instagram, calling her the “pride of our nation.” His heartfelt post read, “And we are in the finals. It was such a joy watching you playing live. You are the pride of our nation, @vineshphogat. Good luck for the finals. Our prayers are with you.”
Taapsee Pannu celebrated Phogat’s win with a series of Instagram stories. In one story, she praised Phogat’s resilience and declared herself a lifelong fan of the wrestler. “This woman is going to be recalled as a benchmark in a lot of ways for decades to come! What a woman! What a crazy year she has had and what courage she has shown. Your fan for life,” Pannu wrote. Her subsequent stories continued to cheer for Phogat, highlighting her journey to the finals and applauding her champion spirit.
Ayushmann Khurrana posted an emotional moment of Phogat crying after her win on Instagram, writing, “Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat couldn’t stop crying after her win from the unbeatable world No.1 champion.” Actress Patralekhaa echoed these sentiments, calling Phogat’s win a “moment for the country” in her Instagram story, adding, “What a game…champion. Vinesh Phogat wins silver. What a moment for the country #Phoenix.”
Arjun Rampal also acknowledged Phogat’s remarkable achievement, stating, “Vinesh Phogat, first Indian woman to reach an Olympic final. Such a fabulous few bouts she has had. Get the gold girl.”
Vinesh Phogat's journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics finals reads like a Bollywood script waiting to be made. From being the face of protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, to securing a silver medal and moving into the Olympic finals, Vinesh's story has all the elements of a cinematic blockbuster.
The internet is now abuzz with pride for the wrestler who once faced criticism for opposing the government. As Vinesh clinched victory in the women’s wrestling 50kg category, becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, the hashtag #Dangal began trending on X (formerly Twitter). Fans are not just celebrating her achievement but also campaigning for a sequel to the 2016 hit film Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Aamir Khan.
The excitement is palpable. One user quipped, "Hello Nitesh Tiwari Sir, Dangal 2 ki script ready karo... Jaldi..." Another enthusiastic fan posted, “DANGAL 2: I’m so seated. The theatre employees are scared and asking me to leave because ‘the movie isn’t announced yet, the cast hasn’t been finalized, the crew not allotted,’ but I’m simply too seated.” A montage of Vinesh's Olympic appearances from Rio 2016 to Paris 2024, captioned “It’s time for Dangal 2,” also made the rounds, capturing the nation's collective sentiment.
Dangal tells the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, played by Aamir Khan, who trained his daughters Geeta and Babita to become India's first world-class female wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat, a niece raised by Mahavir, adds another chapter to the family’s legacy with her latest triumph.
While top competitors like Yui Susaki and Sarah Ann Hildebrandt were fine-tuning their Olympic strategies, Vinesh was engaged in a fierce battle away from the mat. For nearly 15 months, she led a high-profile protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former head of the Indian wrestling federation, who was accused of sexual harassment. Facing harsh conditions and personal threats, Vinesh stood strong despite being belittled as a "Khotta Sikka" (Counterfeit Coin) by Singh.
Vinesh’s resilience never wavered. Her journey from protesting in the streets of Delhi to competing on the Olympic stage is a powerful comeback story, highlighting her exceptional character and unwavering determination.
Vinesh Phogat is now set to compete against America’s Sarah Hildebrandt for the gold medal on August 7, and the nation watches with bated breath, ready to cheer for their champion.
- PTC PUNJABI
