India secures 4 medals in Asian championship

New Delhi, May 13: Three women wrestlers including Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik won the silver medal in their weight classes of Asian Wrestling Championships here on Friday. The three Indian women wrestlers lost to Japan's rivals, which proved to be very strong for them.

Ritu Phogat got a bronze medal in the women's 48kg category because her opponent China's Sun Yanan decided to withdraw from the third place playoff due to injury.

Sakshi (60kg) and Divya Kakran (69kg), however, could not play a full six-minute bout against the gold medal, while Vinesh Phogat (55kg) offered a tough challenge before losing.

After the Olympics, the returning to the International Circuit did not appear in the rhythm and they had to face 10-0 in the Rio Olympics gold medal-winning gold medalist Japan's Riskey Kawai in two minutes and 44 seconds.

With the bronze medal in Rio last year, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal in the Olympics, the history-maker was unable to challenge any of its strong opponent of Japan.

After increasing the weight class, witnessing 60 kgs for the first time instead of 58kg, witnessed barely sweating during the journey till the final.

The 24-year-old witness made the final in the quarter-finals by defeating Uzbekistan's Nabira Eisenbayva 6-2 and defeating Ayazul Qasimova 15-3 in the semi-finals. Sakshi said after the medal ceremony, "Kavai is a very experienced wrestler and an Olympic gold medalist. This has been a great learning experience for me. I am happy that after the Rio Olympic and after the marriage, I did the silver medal in my name. Although I think I could do better than this'.



Vinesh also is returning after a long time due to injury, he initially challenged Japanese Pahlwana Sai Nanjo, but in the end, he had to be satisfied with the second place defeating him 4-8.

In the quarterfinals, he entered the gold medal in the quarterfinals by defeating Uzbekistan's Sevara Ashmuratova 10-0 and in the semi-finals that China's Zhang 4-0.

Though Vineesh usually participates in 48kg or 53kg, but they decided to participate in 55 kg in the Asian championship. He said that he is happy to win a silver medal in this weight category.

Vineesh, who returned after last year's Rio Olympics, also made it clear that he will return to his 48kg class, he said, participating in the 55 kg category and winning the silver medal is satisfactory. I am happy to return.