U-17 World Championships: Neha from Vinesh Phogat's village wins gold
Neha Sangwan, a promising young wrestler from Haryana's Balali village, emerged victorious at the U-17 World Championships in Amman. She secured a gold medal in the 57kg category by defeating Japan's So Tsutsui with a score of 10-0 on August 22. The 17-year-old athlete demonstrated technical superiority over her Japanese opponent during their final bout. This victory marks another significant achievement for India in the international wrestling arena.
Sangwan's victory: A tribute to her village's wrestling legacy
Sangwan's triumph is particularly noteworthy as she hails from the same village as renowned Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat. In an earlier interview with the Indian Express, Sangwan expressed her admiration for Phogat, stating that "Vinesh didi has reached where no other wrestler from the village has." She further added that "For us, the Olympic Gold was hers and that's what we want to tell her." This sentiment underscores Sangwan's respect for Phogat and her desire to continue Balali's wrestling legacy.
Sangwan's winning strategy and India's overall performance
In the final bout, Sangwan showcased her wrestling prowess by overpowering Tsutsui with double-leg attacks. Her dominating performance left little room for her opponent to challenge her in the gold medal bout. Alongside Sangwan, other Indian women wrestlers also made their mark at the U-17 World Championships. Aditi Kumari and Pulkit emerged as champions in their respective categories of 43kg and 65kg, further cementing India's strong presence in this prestigious event.
Other Indian wrestlers shine at U-17 World Championships
Kumari defeated Maria Louiza Gkika of Greece with a score of 7-0 in the summit clash, while Pulkit overcame Faria Frolova, who was competing as a neutral athlete in the 65kg final. Despite conceding a pushout point and caution late in her bout against Frolova, Pulkit managed to secure a 6-3 victory. Mansi Lather also clinched gold after defeating Hanna Pirskaya in the 73kg final. These victories underscore India's dominance at the U-17 World Championships.
