Nationals: Sarita Mor sours Geeta Phogat’s return to the mat

Gonda, November 12

A tactically superior Sarita Mor bagged the 59kg title with a commanding victory over comeback girl Geeta Phogat on a day when established names such as Divya Kakran and Sakshi Malik bit the dust at the national wrestling championships here today.

The 59kg category was one of the toughest in the women’s competition with three World Championships medallists in the fray for the title. While Sarita entered the event fresh from World Championships bronze-winning performance, Pooja Dhanda (2018 Worlds bronze winner) needed to get back her old touch. Making it a tougher bracket was 2012 Worlds bronze winner Geeta, who returned to competitive wrestling after three years following maternity break.

Sarita dominated all her matches en route the title clash as only Pooja tested her. She won two matches by fall and one by technical superiority. As it was anticipated, 26-year-old Sarita and 32-year Geeta entered the final in which the Railways wrestler emerged champion with an 8-0 scoreline.

“Win or defeat doesn’t matter but the manner of defeat is what is hurting. I just could not play my game in final, I let Sarita dictate terms,” she said.

Geeta’s younger sister Sangeeta won the title in the 62kg division, in which Sakshi Malik was knocked out by Manisha with a 6-1 score. Another big name to bite the dust was U-23 World Championships bronze medallist Divya Kakran. — PTI

Oly quota winners may have to appear in trials

Gonda: In a major policy change, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) today decided that if required, then it will ask the quota winning wrestlers to appear in trials before finalising the Indian team for next Olympics, a move which has irked the top athletes. In another major decision, no state will be allowed to field more than one team at the Nationals, something that will hurt Haryana. pti