India continued their dominant show, winning six medals, including three gold on Day 2 of the wrestling events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham on Saturday.
For India, Vinesh Phogat (women's 53kg), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (men's 57kg) and Naveen (men's 74kg) emerged victorious with gold medals medals to their name.
It was a third successive CWG gold for Vinesh, while a maiden one for Tokyo silver-medallist Ravi Dahiya and 19-year-old Naveen.
Meanwhile, wrestlers Pooja Gehlot (women's 50kg), Pooja Sihag (women's 76kg) and Deepak Nehra (men's 97kg) added to India's medal tally with a bronze each.
India now have a total of 12 medals in wrestling, equalling their total from the 2018 CWG. However, they have won six gold medals in Birmingham - one more than what they won in the previous edition at Gold Coast.
Vinesh Claims Hat-Trick CWG Gold
Vinesh Phogat displayed her dominance in the women's 53kg category, defeating Sri Lanka's Chamodya Keshani Maduravlage Don 4-0 to win her third successive CWG gold.
Vinesh reached a hat-trick of gold medals at CWG with a 'victory by fall' over her Sri Lankan opponent. With only four wrestlers in the women's 53kg draw, Vinesh won all her three bouts to top the group according to Nordic system and walk away with the gold medal.
In what was expected to be a tough opener against World Championship bronze medallist Samantha Leigh Stewart of Canada, Vinesh reduced it to a no contest and finished it in mere 36 seconds.
Next up for the 27-year-old Vinesh was Nigeria's Mercy Bolafunoluwa Adekuoroye, who tried to resist a bit but soon the Indian had her in an iron grip. Vinesh kept her in that position for more than a minute in a magnificent show of power.
19-year-old Naveen who won a gold medal in the men's men's 74kg freestyle wrestling in his maiden CWG campiagn at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
(Photo: PTI)
Ravi Dahiya Wins First CWG Gold
Ravi Kumar Dahiya got the better of Nigeria's Ebikewenimo Welson in the men's freestyle 57kg wrestling final to claim his maiden CWG gold.
The 24-year-old Indian won 10-0 by 'technical superiority' over his Nigerian opponent. Tokyo Games silver medallist Ravi was also too good for his field since the start of his CWG campaign.
He won both his bouts -- against Suraj Singh of New Zealand and Pakistan's Asad Ali -- by technical superiority in the men's freestyle 57kg.
Golden Finish for Naveen
19-year-old Naveen won the heart of the crowd by winning gold medal in his maiden CWG campiagn in the men's 74kg freestyle wrestling.
The young Indian wrestler earned a 9-0 win via 'victory by points' over Pakistan's Tahir Muhammad Sharif in the gold medal bout between two traditional rivals.
Naveen began with 'technical superiority' wins over Nigeria's Ogbonna Emmanuel John, Singapore's Hong Yeow Lou and England's Charlie James Bowling.
India's Pooja Sihag reacts after winning against Australia's Naomi de Bruine in the women's freestyle wrestling 76kg bronze medal match of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
(Photo: PTI)
Three Indians Bag Bronze
Pooja Gehlot won her bronze medal play-off bout in the women's 50kg event overcoming Scotland's Christelle Letchidjio.
The 25-year-old won via 'technical superirority' over her Scottish counterpart.
Pooja Gehlot made a confident start with a TSU win over Scotland's Christelle Lemofack Letchidjio and then got a walk over from Cameron's Rebecca Ndolo Muambo to make the semi-final stage with ease.
However, she lost the last-four clash 6-9 to Canada's Madison Bianca Parks. Since only six wrestlers featured in this category, it was competed in Nordic style where all wrestlers, divided into two groups, competed once against each other.
Pooja Sihag won India's second bronze of the day as she emerged victorious by 'technical superiority' against Australia's Naomi de Bruine in the women's freestyle 76kg wrestling.
India's third bronze of the day came through 19-year-old Deepak Nehra as he won the men's 97kg bout against Pakistan's Tayab Raza via 'victory by points'.
(With inputs from PTI)
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