Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian woman-wrestler to win Asiad gold
Vinesh Phogat today created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, brushing aside her rivals with remarkable ease in the 50kg category in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vinesh was a medal-favorite in her category and was likely to face stiff competition from Japan's Yuki Irie whom she outplayed 6-2 in the finals. Here's more.
Vinesh's first opponent in Asian Games was Chinese Yanan Sun
It is surely a ground-breaking achievement for the 23-year-old firebrand Haryana wrestler, who is connected to Dangal-famed Phogat family. Putting behind her heart-breaking loss at the Olympics two years ago, Vinesh began her victorious campaign with a revenge win against Chinese Yanan Sun against whom she had suffered a terrible leg injury which cut short her journey in Rio.
Vinesh's semifinal lasted just 75 seconds
This time Vinesh didn't give Sun any chance and came out a dominant winner with an 8-2 score. In the next bout, she was against Korea's Hyungjoo Kim. She ended the bout with a four-point throw. Vinesh's semifinal lasted just 75-seconds as she moved into the final with a 'fitley'. She was already up 4-0 and then rolled over her opponent thrice with leg-lock.
Vinesh created another achievement
The gold also enabled Vinesh to achieve another feat as she became the only woman wrestler to win two medals in back-to-back Asian Games.
Pooja Dhanda, Sakshi Malik to fight for bronze
Vinesh had earlier won a bronze medal in the 48kg category at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and back-to-back gold medals in Glasgow and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games this year. Earlier, Sakshi Malik lost for being over-defensive and was left to fight for bronze in the 62kg category. CWG silver medalist Pooja Dhanda will also fight for bronze after losing her semifinal (57kg).
Men's wrestling campaign finished with one gold medal
Pinki was the only girl to not reach the medal round as she lost her first-round bout in the 53kg category against Mongolia's Sumiya Erdenechimeg. Sumit Malik bit the dust in the 125kg category as he could not resist his opponent even for two minutes, losing by technical superiority. Thus, the men's campaign finished with just one gold medal from Bajrang Punia (65kg).
