Grapplers second-best in Asia

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 22

The Capital's Guru Hanuman Akhada is synonymous with Indian wrestling. Since the time it was established by its late founder Guru Hanuman, the storied institution has given the country many stalwarts in wrestling. Mahabali Satpal, Kartar Singh, Rajiv Tomar are the some of the famous names from this akhada.

On Sunday, Sachin Rathi joined the list of the winners from the akhada after he overturned a stiff deficit of seven points to win the gold medal in the 74kg weight division on the last day of the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships.

After trailing 2-5 against Mongolia's Bat-Erdene Byambasuren in the first period, he fell further behind (2-9) in the second. But the 20-year-old from Baghpat then pinned the Mongolian to earn the victory by fall.

“In wrestling you could win till the last moment. I had the confidence to win the gold and I did not give up,” Rathi, who is a petty officer with the Indian Navy, said after his win.

Dronacharya awardee Maha Singh Rao, was at mat-side with the 20-year-old, guided him to get closer to the Mongolian during the bout. “He has made us very proud with the way he fought today,” Rao, who is also associated with the Guru Hanuman Akhada, said of his ward.

Gold for Deepak Punia

Deepak Punia was the second gold medal winner for the hosts as he beat Turkmenistan's Ajat Gajyyev on technical superiority in the 86kg category. 

Deepak, who trains at Delhi's Chhatrasal Akhada, was the favourite to win the gold the moment he tamed Iran's Seyedsajjad Seyedmehdi Seyedi in the earlier rounds (8-2). Deepak has been a serial winner from his time as a cadet wrestler. He won the 2016 Cadet World Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The same year he did the double in Asia with the Cadet and Junior crowns. Before competing here, the Jhajjar boy had won the bronze in the Tbilisi Grand Prix in Georgia.

The experience of fighting in the senior competition has added to his confidence. “There is no difference between fighting in the junior or senior competition. Junior wrestlers have been beating the seniors now,” Deepak said.

Bronze for Suraj, Mohit

Also winning a medal for India was Suraj Rajkumar Kokate who won the bronze in the 61kg category. Suraj beat Japan's Yuot Tsuchiya 16-8 in a pulsating fight. In the super heavyweight division, Mohit beat Bat Erdenne Erdenebaatar of Mongolia on technical superiority to claim the bronze. The medal rush enabled hosts India to finish second in the team championship behind Iran. Iran topped the team championship with 189 points followed by India at 173 points. Uzbekistan finished a distant third on 128 points.

Results

Team Medallists 

FIRST:  Iran (189 pts)

SECOND: India (173 pts)

THIRD: Uzbekistan (128 pts)

Indian Medallists

Men's Freestyle

Gold: Sachin Rathi (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg)

Silver: Naveen (57kg), Vishal Kaliraman (70kg), Sachin Giri (79kg)

Bronze: Suraj Rajkumar Kokate (61kg), Karan (65kg), Mohit (125kg)

Men's Greco-Roman

Gold: Sajan (77kg)

Silver: Vijay (55kg), Aryan Panwar (130kg)

Bronze: Viresh Kundu (97kg)

Women's Freestyle

Silver: Mansi (57kg), Divya Kakran (68kg)

Bronze: Swati Shinde (53kg), Reena (55kg), Karuna (76kg)