Anshu Malik becomes the first Indian woman to reach a World Wrestling Championships final

Anshu Malik becomes the first Indian woman to reach a World Wrestling Championships final

Anshu Malik

Budding grappler Anshu Malik has scripted history at the World Wrestling Championships 2021. Anshu has become the first Indian woman to qualify for a World Championships final. She beat Solomiia Vynnyk of Ukraine 11-0 on technical superiority in the semifinals of the 57kg weight division to assure India’s first medal at the tournament.

Only four Indian women wrestlers have won medals at the Worlds. Geeta Phogat (2012), Babita Phogat (2012), Pooja Dhanda (2018) and Vinesh Phogat (2019), all have clinched bronze. The 20-year-old also became the third Indian ever to make the World Championships gold medal match after Sushil Kumar (2010) and Bajrang Punia (2018).

Anshu Malik shines in the semifinal

Anshu Malik India's Round of 16 wrestling Live Stream
Anshu Malik

Having faltered at the Tokyo Olympics, her maiden Olympic appearance, Anshu Malik has come roaring back at the World Wrestling Championships. Malik, the reigning Asian champion, controlled the semifinal from the beginning and outclassed the junior European champion by technical superiority to etch her names history books.

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India has had only one World Champion in Sushil to date and Anshu will be on the verge of yet another page in the book of Indian wrestling on Thursday. Among others, Sarita Mor (58 kg) and Kiran (76kg) will be featuring in the bronze medal bouts. All eyes will be on Sarita as she toppled the World Champion in her opening bout and is a favourite for the medal.

Also Read: Olympic Silver Medallist Ravi Kumar Dahiya Skips World Wrestling Championships 2021