Sarita shocks Pooja, easy for Vinesh

Lucknow, July 28

Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik had it easy but World Championships bronze medallist Pooja Dhanda was knocked out by Sarita Mor in the trials for this year’s wrestling World Championships. With only three wrestlers competing in the 53kg category, Vinesh had to wrestle with just one rival and she emerged a 9-0 winner against Pinki in the final bout.

The 57kg category saw the toughest bouts of the day with Pooja, fast-rising Anshu Malik, world No. 4 Manju and Sarita in the fray. Pooja began with a win by fall over Rani Rana but was stretched in the semifinal by Anshu. She was trailing 2-4 till the last minute but a timely two-point move put her level with her young rival, sending her into the final. Anshu almost pulled it off but Pooja’s experience and her ability to produce smart moves at crucial junctures saved her.

Sarita, on the other hand, came out all guns blazing and despite suffering a knee injury after 52 seconds into the final bout, she emerged stronger. “I had worked on her game. We know each other pretty well. Whenever I have been defensive, I have not done well. So, being aggressive throughout was the key today. Pooja has a big game, so I am pretty happy with the result,” Sarita said. Sarita conceded that at the world stage, her rivals are a notch above her, both on fitness and on technique.

In the 62kg category, Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi needed just 58 seconds to beat Ankita and less than one period to nail Reshma Mann in the final bout. In the 68kg category, Divya Kakran impressed with her brute strength on her way to sealing a berth for the World Championships. 

She first beat Naina 7-2 and then Navjot Kaur 6-3 in the final. Kiran (76kg) and Seema Bisla (50kg) too made the cut. The World Championships will be held in Kazakhstan from September 14-22. —  PTI

WORLD C’SHIPS TEAM

• 50 kg Seema Bisla
• 53 kg Vinesh Phogat
• 57 kg Sarita Mor
• 62 kg Sakshi Malik
• 68 kg Divya Kakran
• 76 kg Kiran Godara