Vinesh Phogat clinched India’s first medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships. The 25-year-old, who became India’s first women gold medallist at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in wrestling, pinned two-time Worlds medallist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the 53kg category to win the bronze and take India to the podium for the first time in the 2019 edition of the Wrestling Championships. The bronze was a double celebration for Phogat, who had earlier in the day becomes India’s first wrestler to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Twitter congratulated the history maker for securing the Olympic berth but couldn’t hide their excitement when Phogat sealed the bronze and set India’s hopes high for Tokyo. Vinesh Phogat Scripts History at 2019 World Wrestling Championships, Sets India's Hopes High For Gold at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The bronze medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships completed an incredible fightback for Vinesh, who at one stage trailed 0-1 in the medal bout. She won the bout against Prevolaraki 4-1 having seen off World No 1 Sarah Ann Hildebrandt and 2016 Olympic medallist Sofia Mattsson in the earlier rounds. Vinesh first thrashed Mattsson 13-0 in the opening round but lost out 0-7 against Japan’s Mayu Mukaida that knocked her out of the competition. Vinesh Phogat Qualifies For Tokyo Olympics 2020: Sister and Wrestler Babita Phogat Posts a Congratulatory Video.

The Moment Vinesh Phogat Put India in World Maps

India's Record Girl Vinesh Phogat

But with Mukaida reaching the final, Vinesh was given another lifeline to at least challenge for the bronze and she cupped it with both hands. The reigning Commonwealth and Asian gold medallist beat Yuliya Khalvadzhy-Blahinya 5-0 in the first repechage round before overcoming returning World silver medallist and top-ranked Hildebrandt 8-2 to not only qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but also reach the final medal round. Twitter jumped in exuberance as Vinesh clinched the bronze.

A First of Many

Vinesh Phogat is Going to Tokyo

A Statement We Won't Forget

Vinesh Phogat is a Real Champion

Congratulations On the Bronze

Two Feats In a Day

An Inspiration!!

Ticket Booked

Phogat is also the first Indian women wrestler to clinch a medal at the World Wrestling Championships in a pre-Olympic year and the first women wrestler to qualify for consecutive Olympic games. She remains India's biggest hopes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2019 08:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).