Vinesh wins third gold of season

Warsaw, June 11

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat proved that her preparations for the Tokyo Games were on track as she won the 53kg gold at the Poland Open here today.

Vinesh beat Ukraine’s Khrystyna Bereza 8-0 in the final. Vinesh took most of her points through double-leg attacks while the 2019 European silver medallist Bereza was on the defensive throughout.

It is the third title of the season for the 26-year-old Vinesh, who had also claimed gold medals at the Matteo Pellicone event (March) and Asian Championship (April).

Except for her opening bout against 2019 World Championship bronze winner Ekaterina Poleshchuk, Vinesh wasn’t troubled by any of her rivals as she conceded only two points en route to the top place. She beat Poleshchuk 6-2 but needed only 75 seconds to pin her American rival Amy Ann Fearnside in the semifinals.

Earlier in the day, Anshu Malik pulled out of the 57kg competition due to fever. — PTI