Manisha Bhanwala secured the non-Olympic 59kg world title by executing an aggressive late comeback against Abigail Nette of the United States. Trailing 1-6 at the interval, Bhanwala utilized her sparring preparation and exploited her opponent's late-match fatigue to land a decisive takedown with 30 seconds remaining to finish 8-6. The triumph builds upon her continental success, which already includes four Asian Championship medals such as a bronze in 2022 and a gold last year. Her victory also fulfilled a family journey inspired by her late father, Suresh, who originally introduced her to the sport.
Key points
Bhanwala is the first Indian woman wrestler to secure a gold medal at the World Champions…: Bhanwala is the first Indian woman wrestler to secure a gold medal at the World Championships.
At 29 years of age, she stands as the oldest of the 24 Indian wrestlers who have claimed…: At 29 years of age, she stands as the oldest of the 24 Indian wrestlers who have claimed a World Championship medal.
The victory marks the first world title for an Indian wrestler since Sushil Kumar won in…: The victory marks the first world title for an Indian wrestler since Sushil Kumar won in 2010.
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New Delhi: An athlete’s biggest test, perhaps, comes not when they’re dominating but when they’re down. When a match is going against them. When the clock is against them. When a glance at the scoreboard doesn’t give reason to breathe easy. Manisha Bhanwala, competing in the non-Olympic 59kg category, faced multiple challenges in the Wrestling World Championships final on Friday.
At Astana’s Barys Arena, USA’s Abigail Nette led Bhanwala 6-0 in the first period and then 6-1 at the break. But a lapse from the American gave the 29-year-old Indian an ‘in’ which saw the deficit reduced to two points. With half a minute left, Bhanwala forced a takedown to take an 8-6 lead, which she held on to win a historic medal.
How historic? Manisha Bhanwala had become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships. She became the first Indian, male or female, to stand atop the podium since Sushil Kumar in 2010. At 29, she is the oldest of the 24 Indians to have won a medal at the World Championships.
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