NEW DELHI, Apr 21: It was a good day in office for Indian grapplers as they bagged one silver and three bronze medals in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship here today.
Navjot Kaur settled for silver in the 67kg category after losing her final bout to Mongolia’s N Ochirbat while Geetika Jakhar (63kg) and Jyoti (72kg) won their bronze medal ties, after star grappler Geeta Phogat made a shock first round exit from the tournament.
India’s bet in the men’s 120kg category, Hitender, too bagged a bronze medal to end the penultimate day on a high for the hosts.
Navjot, who earned a bye in the opening round, was the first to attack in the gold medal bout as she attempted single-leg takedown on her opponent. However, the Mongolian successfully resisted the challenge to deny the local favourite a point.
Ochirbat, in the dying moments, collected a point through a back grip on Navjot to win the first period.
The Punjabi girl started the next period warily and Ochirbat, who had beaten her in the World Cup in March, was quick to pounce on her rival to take 5-0 lead. Egged on by a vociferous crowd here at the KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium, Navjot fought hard to make a match of it and collected two points but she lost the tie 0-1 2-5.
“I was feeling nervous ahead of the bout. I wanted to win gold medal in front of my home crowd,” Navjot said after the summit clash.
“The same opponent had thrashed me in the World Cup in March this year. I am happy that I made a match out of it,” she added.
Seasoned Indian grappler, Geetika Jakhar, recorded a win ‘by fall’ over Thailand’s Wilaiwan Thongkam to win the bronze medal in the 63kg category.
Geetika, who won her opening bout, was overwhelmed in the semifinals by China’s Zhuoma Xiluo, who went onto win the gold. (PTI)
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