Asian Games 2018: Vinesh Phogat wins gold in women's 50kg freestyle wrestling

India won their second gold of 2018 Asian Games as wrestler Vinesh Phogat defeated Japan's Irie Yuki 6-2 to win gold in women's 50kg freestyle wrestling on Monday. It is India's second gold medal in wrestling too.

Vinesh Phogat, who won a bronze medal in the women's freestyle 48 kg category at Incheon in 2014, is the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.  

Phogat earned four points with her very first tackle on her Japanese opponent. The Japanese tried to fight back but Vinesh extended her lead. She took it to 6-2 to win the gold medal. 

Earlier in the day, Phogat had kicked off her campaign on a late Monday morning with an injury scare. She had hurt her leg during her bout with Chinese opponent Sun Yanan. 

Vinesh had retained her Commonwealth Games gold medal in 50kg freestyle wrestling at Gold Coast earlier this year. She had also won the Spanish Grand Prix in August. 

At 2018 Asian Games, Vinesh is the torchbearer for the famous Phogat family after her cousins Geeta and Babita missed the qualification spot. 

Bajrang Punia had opened India's gold account on Sunday. Vinesh's medal was India's third of the day and fifth so far. All the other three medals (two silvers and a bronze) have come in shooting.