Commonwealth Games: Wrestlers join the gold party

Gold Coast: Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar (74kg) and event debutant Rahul Aware (57kg) provided the golden touch as India picked up an impressive four medals in wrestling at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.

Defending champion Sushil needed just a minute and 20 seconds to beat Johannes Botha of South Africa in the final to claim his third successive gold at the Games.

Aware prevailed 15-7 over Canada’s Steven Takahashi. Another defending champion Babita Phogat (53kg) had to settle for a silver, after getting beaten by Canada’s Diana Weicker 2-5 while debutant Kiran (76kg) claimed bronze. Kiran defeated Mauritian Katouskia Pariadhaven by fall in the repechage round for her first major medal at the international level.

Sushil took little time to defeat Botha on technical superiority. The South African came into the bout struggling with a leg injury, which hampered his chances of winning significantly.

Prior to the final, Sushil scored easy technical superiority victories over Canada’s Jevon Balfour and Pakistan’s Muhammad Asad Butt before registering a win by fall over Australia’s Connor Evans.

Aware was locked in an exciting contest with Takahashi despite being troubled by a groin niggle to claim India’s first medal in wrestling.

The Indian trailed 6-7 at one stage but claimed points on takedown to recover. Aware had a smooth passage into the final with comprehensive wins over England’s George Ramm, Australia’s Thomas Cicchini and Pakistan’s Muhammad Bilal.

“I have been waiting for this medal for the last 10 years. I can’t describe how it feels to claim it. I missed out on 2010, even in 2014, the team was sent without trials. So, I am very happy that I could finally fulfil this dream,” said the 26-year-old.

“My leg was troubling me for a while but I dedicate this to my guru (former CWG gold medallist Harishchandra Birajdar) who passed away in 2011, I am happy that all the efforts I put in got the result I wanted. I have fulfilled my family’s dream. My opponent probably lacked intensity in the final few moments,” he added.

Weicker outmanoeuvred Babita, who claimed silver in 2010 and gold in 2014. The Indian failed to break through her rival’s defences, going down 2-5.

“I think my weakness was my attack, I should have been more aggressive but I gave my 100 per cent. I am satisfied with the intensity I put in but obviously I could not get the result I wanted,” she said.

“I had a bit of a problem in my knees too but injuries are a wrestler’s ornaments. We live with niggles, there is nothing there,” she added.

Babita advanced to the final with wins over Nigeria’s Samuel Bose, Sri Lanka’s Deepika Dilhani, and Australia’s Carissa Holland.