World Wrestling Championships: Vinesh Phogat wins bronze after Olympics qualification

Kazakhstan: Vinesh Phogat ended her medal drought at Wrestling World Championships as the star Indian wrestler clinched a bronze in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.

Vinesh Phogat defeated two-time world bronze medallist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece by fall in the bronze medal bout of 53 kg freestyle event. 

Vinesh is only the fifth Indian woman wrestler to win a Worlds medal after Alka Tomar (2006), Geeta Phogat (2012), Babita Phogat (2012) and Pooja Dhanda (2018).

The win comes as a double delight for the young Indian wrestler as she won India an Olympic quota in the 53 kg freestyle event earlier on Wednesday. Vinesh Phogat had shown excellent defensive skills when she defeated World No.1 Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt of USA in the second repechage round.

Despite having won the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games gold medals, a World Championships medal was missing from her decorated trophy cabinet before the ongoing Tournament in Nur-Sultan.

This post was published on September 19, 2019 6:28 pm