Vinesh Phogat will take on USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the 50kg wrestling gold medal match at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday. Here’s all you need to know about Hildebrandt.
Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday will become the first Indian female wrestler to fight for the gold medal at the Olympics. The 29-year-old will fight against the USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the gold medal match of the women’s 50kg freestyle event at the Paris Olympics 2024. Phogat made history on Tuesday by becoming the first female wrestler from India to win the semi-finals in wrestling at the Olympics.
Phogat began her campaign by stunning reigning Olympic champions Yui Susaki of Japan 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. This was Susaki’s first international defeat after victories in over 80 bouts. Phogat downed Ukraine’s Oksana Livach 7-5 in the quarter-finals to keep her spirited campaign going.
In the semi-finals, the Indian star grappler got better of Cuba’s Yusneylys Gusman 5-0 to be assured of at least a silver.
Who is Sarah Hildebrandt?
In the final, she will be up against Hildebrandt who was bronze medallist in the 50kg category at Tokyo Olympics three years ago. In the same edition, Phogat competed in the 53kg category and was forced to drop down to the 50kg category due to Antim Panghal winning the quota in the former event.
Just like Phogat, Hildebrandt has also fought in several categories including 50kg, 53kg, and 55kg.
She has won seven Pan American Championships gold medals with three in the 50kg category and two each in 53 and 55.
Hildebrandt has also won the Pan America Games gold in 53kg.
The 30-year-old American has also won two silvers at the world championships, one in 53 and another in 50kg, besides two bronze in the 50kg category.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Hildebrandt defeated Oksana of Ukraine to win bronze, the same opponent Vineesh defeated to reach the semi-finals.
Hildebrandt’s road to final
She defeated Ibtissem Doudou of Algeria 10-0 by technical superiority in her first bout followed by a 7-4 win over China’s Feng Ziqi in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Hildebrandt defeated Otgonjargal Dolgorjav of Mongolia 5-0 win.
Vinesh Phogat vs Sarah Hildebrandt
Vinesh Phogat has a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Sarah Hildebrandt.
Shee first met Hildebrandt in the 2019 Dan Kolov and Nicola Petrov event in Bulgaria where Vinesh defeated her to win silver while the American won the bronze.
Vinesh met Hildebrandt for a second time in the Repechage round at the 2019 World Championships in Kazakhstan and defeated her before winning the 53kg bronze medal.
Vinesh Phogat’s match vs Sarah Ann Hildebrandt is expected to be played at 12:45 AM (8 August, Thursday).
Vinesh Phogat's historic journey to the final is a testament to her unwavering determination and resilience. The gold medal match promises to be an exciting clash of styles and a battle for supremacy on the mat.
