Navjot Kaur Wins Asian Wrestling Gold; Sakshi Malik Settles For Bronze; Silver For Vinesh Phogat

Navjot Kaur scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships here on Friday.

Navjot thrashed Japan's Miya Imai 9-1 in the final to emerge champion in the women's 65 kilogram category.

Congratulations Navjot Kaur on becoming the 1st Indian woman to clinch a Gold medal at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship.

The year has begun on a great note for Indian sports. Here's to many more record breaking performances. Go Indiaaaa ✌🏻🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/fJXRFGHMsa

— Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) March 2, 2018

#NavjotKaur clinches 1st gold medal for India in #AsianWrestlingChampionship in Bishkek, #Kyrgyzstan. pic.twitter.com/wnPEbjj6qN

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 2, 2018

Earlier, Sakshi Malik won bronze in the 62kg freestyle category after getting the better of Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Kassymova 10-7 in a tough fight.

Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat had to be contend with a silver medal after losing 2-3 to China’s a Chun Lei in the summit clash of the women’s 50kg freestyle category.

भारतीय कुश्ती जगत् के लिये खुशी का दिन..आज नवजोत कौर ने रचा इतिहास बनी भारत की पहली सीनियर महिला एशिया चैम्पीयन🥇✌🏼ओर साक्षी मलिक ने जीता कांस्य पदक 🥉✌🏼दोनों को बहुत-१ बधाई ओर शुभकामनाऐं 👏🏻👏🏻🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/QE02ai09S3

— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) March 2, 2018

Trailing 0-1 early in the bout, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh made a strong comeback to score two points and take the lead. But with less than two minutes left, the Chinese wrestler scored two crucial points with an attacking move to regain the lead, which she defended till the end.

Another Indian wrestler Sangeeta defeated Jieun Um of Korea to win a bronze medal in the women’s 59kg freestyle segment. India’s medal tally stood at one gold, one silver and four bronze medals on Friday, including two bronze in the men’s Greco-Roman events.

T 2731 - #NavjotKaur first woman from India to win Gold in Asian Wrestling Championships .. Amazing ! many congratulations .. India Booming all over .. JAI HIND !!!🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/O1ff0MdkjV

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) March 2, 2018

Miya Imai started the final against Navjot as the aggressor but the Indian was up to the challenge with a strong defensive game. Navjot took the first points with a counter-attack to take a 2-0 lead, but it was wiped out after a successful challenge by the Japanese coaches.

With less than 20 seconds left in the first period, Navjot was put under pressure by Imai but the Indian countered again to score 2 points from a takedown and scored successive points to take a 5-0 lead going into the break.

बहुत ख़ुशी होती है जब छोटी बहनें मेडल जीत कर देश के नाम के साथ-१ हमारा भी नाम आगे बढ़ाती हैं🙏🇮🇳
किर्गिज़स्तान में चल रही सीनियर ऐशियन चैम्पीयन्शिप में विनेश फोगाट ने जीता रजत पदक 🥈और संगीता फोगाट ने जीता कांस्य पदक🥉दोनों बहनों को बहुत-१ बधाई ओर शुभकामनाएँ 👏🏻👏🏻😘🤗🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/PGfQdIwZZl

— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) March 1, 2018

Imai came out with intent in the second segment and with 50 seconds left in the bout she managed to score a point.

As the Japanese wrestler went all out for attack -- and shooting for Navjot’s right leg, the Indian read the move and produced a breathtaking counter throw scoring four points and a 9-1 lead as the clock wound down.

India now have a medal tally of one gold, one silver and four bronze in the competition.

A big round of applause for Vinesh(50kg category) and Sangeeta(59kg category) for winning a silver and a bronze medal respectively in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship in Bishkek!
Congratulations! 🎉
🇮🇳 is proud of you! pic.twitter.com/RHO7YRsKQd

— Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) March 2, 2018

Asian Wrestling Championship: #NavjotKaur wins gold in women's freestyle 65 kg category; defeats her Japanese opponent Miya Imai 9-1 in Bishkek, #Kyrgyzstan.

Congratulations!! #JaiHind 🇮🇳💪#AsianWrestlingChampionship pic.twitter.com/KDc8iikuX0

— Jagrati Shukla (@JagratiShukla29) March 2, 2018

Sikh woman, #NavjotKaur beats Japan’s Miya Imai 9-1 to win a Gold medal 🥇 and become the FIRST Indian woman wrestler to win GOLD in #AsianWrestlingChampionship! She won her Gold medal in Women's Freestyle 65 Kgs category in #Kyrgyzstan.

Winning moments captured by @wrestling pic.twitter.com/G6dY2bP1K1

— Harjinder Singh Kukreja (@SinghLions) March 2, 2018

Heartiest congratulations to #NavjotKaur for winning 1st Gold Medal for the Nation in #AsianWrestlingChampionship . You have made the Nation Proud. More Power to you. #ProudMoment pic.twitter.com/SlvkiashXU

— Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) March 2, 2018

Heartiest congratulations to #NavjotKaur, First Indian woman to win Gold in Asian Wrestling Championship. Nation is proud of you 🇮🇳 #AsianWrestlingChampionships pic.twitter.com/FUUY0UXzUx

— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) March 2, 2018