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United State’s Sarah Hildebrandt celebrates after defeating Mongolia’s Otgonjargal Dolgorjav during their women’s freestyle 50kg wrestling semifinal match, at Champ-de-Mars Arena, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
All you need to know about Sarah Hildebrandt, Vinesh Phogat’s opponent in the Paris Olympics 2024 final in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling.
Vinesh Phogat rewrote history when she took down Cuba’s Yusneylys Gusman Lopez to reach the women’s 50kg final at the Paris Olympics. Phogat is only the third Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar and Ravi Dahiya to have made it to the gold medal match in wrestling at the Olympics. It has been dream campaign for the Indian star who stunned the reigning Olympic champion Japan’s Yui Susaki in the first round in Paris. Phogat showed her grit against her near unbeatable opponent, who secured the gold medal at the Tokyo Games without a point. In the quarter-final, Phogat overcame Ukraine’s Oksana Livach by a 7-5 margin before notching a dominant 5-0 win over Gusman on Tuesday, August 6.
The 29-year-old is now set to face American wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt in the historic Olympic final in the French capital. The 30-year-old American defeated Mongolia’s Dolgorjavyn Otgonjargal 5-0 in the 50kg semi-final to reach the final.
Who is Sarah Hildebrandt – Vinesh Phogat’s Opponent in the final
Sarah Hildebrandt’s career path has been a bit similar to that of Vinesh Poghat. Both wrestlers earlier competed in the women’s 53kg category before trimming down their weight. Starting in the 55kg category, Hildenbrandt, a seven-time Pan American champion, has so far competed in three weight classes.
Hildenbrandt won a 50kg bronze at the last Tokyo Olympics, where Phogat featured in the 53kg event. Hildenbrandt defeated Phogat’s quarter-final opponent in Paris, Oksana Livach, in the third-place match.
Hildebrandt also finished third in the 2022 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade and replicated the result in the following edition of the international tournament last year.
She has also won a couple of silver medals in the World Championships.
Sarah Hildebrandt Vs Vinesh Phogat: previous records
Despite her decorated career, Hildenbrandt doesn’t have an impressive record against Phogat. The duo has previously clashed two times at a global event. Both bouts came in 2019 when Phogat pinned Hildenbrandt in the Dan Kolov and Nicola Petrov competition.
They again faced off in a World Championship match (second Repechage round) in the same year and the Indian wrestler won the battle by a margin of 8-2. Phogat ended up winning the bronze medal in the tournament.
Sarah Hildebrandt Vs Vinesh Phogat Wrestling Final 50 Kg: When and Where to Watch
Like Phogat, Hildenbrandt is set to play her first Olympic final in Paris. Both talented wrestlers will meet in the women’s 50kg final at the Paris Games on Wednesday, August 7. The match will begin at 12:45 PM IST (August 8). Fans can watch the bout on JioCinema.
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