Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faces a challenging start at the Paris Olympics. She will compete against Yui Susaki, the reigning Olympic champion and four-time World Champion.

Susaki has never lost an international match, making it a daunting task for Vinesh to advance past the first round. Susaki's dominance was evident at the Tokyo Games, where she won gold without conceding a single point.

Injured Nisha Dahiya Taken for Wrist Scan

Nisha Dahiya, competing in the women's 68kg category, began her campaign with a victory over Ukraine. However, she suffered a severe hand injury during her match against Korea's Sol Gum Pak. The injury required her to be taken to a medical facility inside the Games Village for a scan. India's national coach, Virender Dahiya, expressed his frustration, stating, "It was 100 percent intentional, they hurt her intentionally. We had seen, there was an instruction from the Korean corner."

Despite the tough draw, there might be a silver lining for Vinesh Phogat. If Susaki reaches the final as expected, it could open up the repechage route for Vinesh. This opportunity arises because Vinesh has moved down to the women's 50kg category from the 53kg weight class. This is Vinesh's third appearance at the Olympics.

Virender Dahiya further elaborated on Nisha's situation: "They attacked the joint. They have taken away the medal from her." He added that Nisha had previously defeated Sol Gum Pak at the Asian Qualifier and was confident of winning again. "The way Nisha had started, the medal was in her neck and it has been taken away," he said.

If Sol Gum Pak reaches the final, Nisha could still have a chance to compete for a medal through repechage. However, her ability to continue will depend on the severity of her injury. "The attacks were clear, the counter-attack worked and the defence was compact," Virender Dahiya noted.

Vinesh Phogat's journey at the Paris Olympics will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. Her performance against Yui Susaki will set the tone for her campaign. Meanwhile, Nisha Dahiya's injury has cast a shadow over her promising start, with hopes pinned on her recovery and potential repechage opportunity.

The wrestling events at the Paris Olympics are proving to be intense and unpredictable. Both Vinesh Phogat and Nisha Dahiya face significant challenges but also have opportunities to make their mark on this prestigious stage. Sathish Raman Oneindia