India's dominance as a wrestling powerhouse was on display at the Coventry Arena on Friday night as three of their wrestlers - Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Deepak Punia won gold, while Anshu Malik bagged silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Friday.
Besides the three gold and one silver, India also won two bronze medals through Divya Kakran (women's 68kg) and Mohit Grewal (men's 128kg).
Bajrang was dominant from the word go against Canada's Lachlan Maurice in the men’s 65kg final as he went on to bag his second CWG gold. Sakshi, meanwhile, pinned her opponent Ana Paula Godinez Gonzalez of Canada to win 'by fall' in the women's 62kg final.
Deepak, on the other hand, overthrew Pakistan's Muhammad Inam 3-0 in the 86kg final bout. With their wins, both Sakshi and Deepak have now won their maiden CWG gold.
Earlier, 20-year-old Anshu bagged her first CWG medal (silver) after losing to Nigeria's Odunayo Adekuoroye 3-7 in the women's 57kg wrestling final.
India's Bajrang Punia competes against Canada's Lachlan McNeil in the final of the men's freestyle wrestling 65kg final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
(Photo: PTI)
Bajrang Defends His Crown
Bajrang Punia beat Canada's Lachlan Maurice Mcneil in 9-2 in the men’s 65kg gold medal bout at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
This is Bajrang’s second gold at the Commonwealth Games, having won one already in 2018 at Gold Coast and a silver in the 2014 edition at Glasgow.
Earlier, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia showcased his dominance in the 65kg competition in which he did not concede a single point en route to the final.
The 28-year-old defending champion beat Naurau's Lowe Bingham and Mauritius' Jean Guyliane Joris Bandou 'by fall' before winning by technical superiority against England's Geroge Ramm in the semi-final.
India's Anshu Malik who won silver in the women's freestyle wrestling 57kg final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
(Photo: PTI)
Anshu Bags Maiden CWG Medal
Young wrestler Anshu Malik bagged silver medal after losing the 57kg wrestling final to Nigeria's Odunayo Adekuoroye 3-7 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
This is the Indian wrestlers maiden medal at the Commonwealth Games. Anshu, who has taken rapid strides in her career, reached the women's 57kg final with similar dominance.
The 20-year-old won by technical superiority against Australia's Irene Symeonidis iand Sri Lanka's Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando Poruthotage in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively. It did not take Anshu much time to measure her opponents. Her trademark aggression and quality was too hot to handle for any of her rivals.
An ecstatic Sakshi Malik of India celebrates after winning gold in the final of the women's freestyle wrestling 62kg category at 2022 Commonwealth Games.
(Photo: PTI)
Sakshi Wins First CWG Gold
Sakshi Malik won her maiden CWG gold, defeating Canada's Ana Paula Godinez Gonzalez and winning 'by fall' in the women's 62kg wrestling final.
Sakshi's technical superiority was no match for her Canadian opponent. For Sakshi Malik, who has been battling for relevance for long, it was an ideal opportunity to get some confidence back and she used it to optimum level in the 62kg contest.
She began by pinning home team wrestler Kelsey Barnes and followed that with a technical superiority win against Cameroon's Berthe Emilienne in the last-four encounter. In her two bouts, she did not concede a single point. Sakshi already has a bronze and silver in her CWG collection.
India's Deepak Punia celebrates after winning against Pakistan's Muhammad Inam in the final of the men's freestyle wrestling 86kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
(Photo: PTI)
Deepak Punia Claims Maiden CWG Gold
In a clash between neighbouring countries, India's Deepak Punia got the better of Pakistan's Muhammad Inam 3-0 to grab his first-ever CWG gold in the 86kg wrestling final.
Earlier in the day, Deepak Punia did not look his dominant and quick self but still won his bouts without giving a point to his rivals.
The wrestler from Chhara village began with technical superiority win over Matthew Clay Oxenham from New Zealand and beat Canada's Alexander Moore 3-1 in the semi-final.
Mohit Grewal poses for a photograph after winning bronze in the men's freestyle 125kg wrestling at 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
(Photo: PTI)
Bronze Medals for Divya and Mohit
Divya Kakran finished off her women's 68kg bronze-medal play-off bout with a victory 'by fall' in under a minute against Tonga's Cocker Lemalie Tiger Lily.
Meanwhile, Mohit Grewal followed Divya to hand India a second bronze in wrestling, defeating Jamaica's Aaron Anthony Johnson 'by fall' in the men's 125kg category.
It took Divya just 0.26s to win her second CWG medal,having won her first at the 2018 edition in bronze. The 23-year-old had won a bronze four years ago too.
Divya, however, had a tough draw as she was pitted against Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and 11-time African champion Blessing Oborududu from Nigeria.
The first round was worth a final though Divya was outplayed by the formidable Nigerian. The Asian Games bronze medallist won her repechage round against Blandine Nyeh Ngiri by fall.
Mohit Grewal had earlier won against Cyprus' Alexios Kaouslidis 10-1 but lost his semi-final to Canada's Amarveer Dhesi by technical superiority.
(With inputs from PTI)
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