Vinesh, Ravi, naveen grab gold; wrestlers sign off with 12 medals

Birmingham, August 6

Vinesh Phogat completed a hat-trick of gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, while Ravi Dahiya and Naveen too went unchallenged in their gold-winning show here today.

Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to win three consecutive gold medals at the Games. In what was expected to be a tough opener against World Championships bronze medallist Samantha Leigh Stewart, Vinesh reduced it to a no-contest and finished it in 36 seconds. Next up for the 27-year-old Vinesh was Nigeria’s Mercy Bolafunoluwa Adekuoroye, whom she beat 6-0. With only four wrestlers in the women’s 53kg draw, Vinesh next needed to beat Sri Lanka’s Chamodya Keshani Maduravlage Don in the Nordic system (all wrestlers competing against each other) to win gold. She did it in style, winning by fall.

Tokyo Games silver medallist Ravi was also too good for the men’s 57kg freestyle field. He entered the final after winning both his bouts by technical superiority. He also won the final by technical superiority, beating Nigeria’s Ebikewenimo Welson 10-0 to claim his first CWG gold.

Naveen entered the final of the men’s freestyle 74kg category with technical superiority wins. In the final, he outclassed Pakistan’s Tahir Muhammad Sharif, winning 9-0. — PTI