Sarita, who won gold at the 2020 championship in New Delhi, had a shaky start with 1-7 but turned it around with a major back back fight against Mongolia’s Shoovdor Baatarjav.
Follow Us
In order to retain her title in the Asian Wrestling Championship (59kg) category, Sarita Mor reeled off nine straight points. In other categories, Seema Bisla (50kg) and Pooja (76kg) settled for bronze medals on Thursday. Sarita, who won gold at the 2020 championship in New Delhi, had a shaky start with 1-7 but turned it around with a major back back fight against Mongolia’s Shoovdor Baatarjav.
Sarita lost her balance when she was on the edge of the mat and at 1-3, and lost her balance. This allowed her rival to get one point. However, the Mongolian’s coach challenged the call to get Baatarjav four points. Sarita was unstoppable from that point. She effected a take-down, followed it up with an expose and then one more take down. Sarita took the score to 7-7.
Time running out fast. To help save themselves, the Mongolian camp challenged the call and lost. This gave Sarita an extra point, who won 10-7.
“It was difficult since she is the 2018 World Championship bronze medallist but I had prepared myself for this bout against the Mongolian. I lost to her in the first bout but I executed the plan in the final against her,” Sarita told PTI.
When asked if it was a consolation to do well in the 59kg since she wasn’t getting the desired results in the 57kg– an Olympic category. Sarita did not agree.
“No, I am doing well at 57kg. I won a silver in the recent Ranking Series event in the 57kg. It’s just unfortunate that I could not make the cut at the 57kg Olympic trials. I am confident I would have done ever better.
“I feel strong in both the categories,” she added.
Sarita was defeated by the same opponent by a margin of 4-5 but came back strongly in the next round against Kazakhstan’s Diana Kayumova. She won by technical superiority in the first period.
In the 50kg competition, Seema lost her opening bout by fall against Kazakhstan’s Valentina Ivanovna but made a strong comeback against Mongolian Anudari Nandintsetseg.
Seema scored on a passivity point and a take-down after she initially trailed 0-2. She won more points by using the gut-wrench and eventually won 7-3.
She faced Uzbekistan’s Jasmina Immaeva in the semifinal but lost 2-3. The Indian beat Taipei’s Yung Hsun Lin by technical superiority and won the bronze medal.
In 76 kg, Pooja won her first bout 2-0 against Korea’s Seoyeon Jeong. Her victory was also followed by another win against Uzbekistan’s Ozoda Zaripboeva. However, she was no match to Elmira Syzdykova in the semifinals as Kazak pinned her with a stunning move .
Pooja won the bronze medal winning 5-2 against Korea’s Seyeon Jeong. In the 68kg, Nisha was left without a position since she lost both her bouts.
