Bajrang Punia bags yet another gold, Vinesh Phogat enters summit clash
India’s top two wrestlers continued their impressive runs this season with Bajrang Punia defending his title at the Tbilisi Grand Prix and Vinesh Phogat reaching her fourth final at the Medved event. Vinesh thrashed her opponent Yafremenka 11-0 in the semifinals to enter the gold medal clash.
Bajrang got to Tbilisi on the back of three golds – at Dan Kolov, Asian Championship and Ali Aliev tournament. In the final, he defended his title against Iran’s Peiman Bibyani, winning the clash 2-0.
Meanwhile, at the Medved event in Minsk, Vinesh put on a show again the local wrestler Yafremenka in the 53kg category. Vinesh will next face Russia’s N Malisheva for a possible fourth consecutive gold. India’s top woman wrestler won the top honours at the Grand Prix of Spain, Yasar Dogu International and Poland Open recently.
Vinesh consistently attacked her opponent's left-leg in the opening stages. Although she could not take advantage with the attack, she got on board after Yafremenka lost a point for passivity.
In the second period, however, she added two more points with a takedown from a left-leg attack. She then switched sides to a right-leg attack, seizing four more points leaving her opponent stunned. The bout eventually ended on a technical superiority in the Indian’s favour, after she completed yet another takedown. The score read 11-0 at the end. Meanwhile, her finals opponent Malisheva blanked local girl Pichkouskay 6-0.
