Asian Games gold medallist, Vinesh Phogat, showcased her wrestling prowess once again by clinching the gold medal in the 55kg category at the Senior National Wrestling Championships. Organized by the IOA-constituted ad-hoc committee, the competition witnessed intense battles and standout performances.
Haryana Women Wrestlers Reign Supreme
In a spectacular display of skill, Haryana’s Anshu Malik, a 2021 World Championship silver medallist, triumphed over 2020 Asian Championship gold medallist Sarita Mor in the 59kg category, securing another gold for Haryana. The Haryana women’s team emerged as the dominant force with 189 points, narrowly surpassing the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) with 187 points. Pondicherry lagged behind in third place with 81 points.
Men’s Wrestling Sees RSPB as Overall Winners
In the men’s greco-roman section, the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) emerged as the overall winners with a commanding 208 points, followed by the Services Sports Control Board with 127 points and Maharashtra with 113 points. The competition will continue with men’s free-style events on the upcoming final day.
This prestigious wrestling event in Jaipur featured contests across 10 different weight divisions, with six being Olympic categories and four in non-Olympic divisions.
Phogat, expressing her optimism for the Olympic qualifiers in April, said, “It’s the Olympic year and it has started well. I’ll try that this year ends well too. The wrestling qualifiers are coming soon (in April)… Need to focus on peaking at the right time. So far, I have been on target.”
Nirmala Devi, another prominent wrestler, secured victory in the 50kg category by pinning down Under-23 Asian champion Neelam. This victory further added to the excitement and energy of the championships, as top wrestlers from across India battled for supremacy on the mat.
