Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik and Divya Kakran clinch gold at the Asian Wrestling Championship


Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik and Divya Kakran clinch gold at the Asian Wrestling Championship

Anshu Malik, Divya Kakran and Vinesh Phogat

The Indian wrestlers came up with excellent displays at the Asian Wrestling Championship to make sure they were in good stead ahead of the all-important Tokyo Olympic Games in July. Vinesh Phogat, one of the favourites to be a medalist at the Games came up with a well-deserved gold as she produced a stupendous performance in the final that saw her pin her opponent in the 53 kg category.

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Apart from Vinesh, Divya Kakran came up with yet another expectedly assured performance to clinch the gold in the event for the second consecutive year. Rounding off India’s gold medalists on Friday was 19-year-old Anshu Malik who had only recently bagged an Olympic quota. She came up with a proof of why she is so highly rated by continuing her meteoric and impressive rise in the world of wrestling.

Vinesh Phogat speaks on the absence of ace wrestlers in the Championship

Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat was the favourite to win the gold in her category and she did so as expected. The fact of the matter however, was that none of her main rivals took part in the event due to Japanese and Chinese wrestlers not travelling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vinesh reacted on the same and said, “The main aim was to wrestle the Japan and China wrestlers, but they are not here. I learnt a lot of things despite the tough opponents not here. The most important part is the recovery. I think my recovery between the bouts is not the best right now.”

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Divya Kakran spoke about her victory and said, “I was thinking that if I didn’t wrestle good in 68kg, how will I win the trials in 72kg? But I managed to and I have wrestled well here. The difference here is that I am wrestling without pressure. In India, I am wrestling with a lot of expectations from myself.

The main focus for the Indian wrestlers will be firmly fixed now on the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Also Read: Wrestlers and Staff test Covid-19 positive at National Women’s Wrestling Camp