Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat secured her second consecutive gold medal in the 53kg category at the Yasar Dogu International tournament, demonstrating her dominance with a convincing 9-5 victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Poleshchuk. This impressive win adds to Vinesh’s accolades following her triumph at the Grand Prix of Spain just a week earlier.
Competing at the UWW ranking series tournament, Vinesh’s performance showcased her skill and determination. En route to the final, she exhibited remarkable prowess by winning two of her three bouts by Technical Superiority, highlighting her strategic superiority on the mat. Vinesh’s gold medal is the third for India in the women’s competition at this event, with fellow wrestlers Seema (50kg) and Manju (59kg) also achieving victory in their respective categories.
Despite Vinesh’s success, the tournament was a mixed bag for the Indian women’s wrestling contingent. Divya Kakran (68kg), who previously won gold in Madrid, failed to progress past the qualification rounds in this event. Similarly, Pooja Dhanda (57kg), who secured a silver medal in Spain, could not make it to the medal rounds, losing in the quarterfinals. Additionally, Sakshi Malik was making her comeback after a minor injury but was unable to reach the medal rounds. She lost in the pre-quarterfinals and subsequently fell short in the repechage round, narrowly missing out on bronze against Russia’s Uliana Tukurenova.
In the men’s freestyle category, Rahul Aware (61kg) made headlines by clinching his first career Ranking Series title. Aware achieved this milestone with a tactical 4-1 victory over Turkey’s Munir Aktas, showcasing his growth and potential as a wrestler. Utkarsh Kale also contributed to India’s medal tally by winning a bronze in the same weight class.
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Deepak Punia, however, had to settle for silver in the 86kg category after losing the final to Azerbaijan’s Aleksandr Gostiyev with a score of 2-7. Despite this setback, Punia’s performance reflects his continued competitiveness on the international stage. Additionally, Sumit added to India’s medal tally by securing a bronze in the 125kg category, further emphasizing the strength of the Indian wrestling squad.
In the absence of star wrestler Bajrang Punia, Sonba Tanaji Gongane competed in the 65kg category but faced defeat in his bronze medal bout against Turkey’s Cengizhan Erdogan by Technical Superiority. The tournament was challenging for several Indian wrestlers, as Rajneesh (70kg) and Viky (92kg) also lost their bronze medal bouts. Amit Dhankar (74kg) and Styawart Kadiyan (97kg) did not progress past the qualification rounds, adding to the challenges faced by the Indian team.
Overall, the Yasar Dogu International showcased the talent and resilience of Indian wrestlers, with Vinesh Phogat leading the charge with her remarkable achievements. As the wrestling season progresses, the Indian contingent will look to build on this momentum and continue to make their mark on the international stage.
