Wrestling highlights Commonwealth Games: Ravi Kumar, Vinesh Phogat, Naveen clinches gold; All Indian wrestlers win medals on Day 9
Wrestling highlights, Commonwealth Games 2022: Catch all the live updates from the quarterfinal action of Indian wrestlers in CWG 2022 in Birmingham on Saturday.
Updated : Aug 07, 2022 00:16 IST
India’s Vinesh Phogat celebrates after winning against Sri Lanka’s Chamodya Keshani Maduravalage Don and securing gold medal in the women’s 53kg freestyle category. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
A truly productive day for India at the Wrestling Arena. Six Indians started the day and six medals were added to the tally at the end of it. Three gold medals and three bronze medals balance the harvest today for the grapplers.
Here is the final tally for India in Wrestling from the 2022 CWG games
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| India | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
Mens Freestyle 97kg Bronze Medal match - Deepak Nehra vs Tayab Raza (Pakistan) - Deepak Nehra wins
Another India-Pakistan clash at the wrestling arena. Deepak is the last Indian wrestler in action. He will be looking to win India its 12th wrestling medal. He starts off on the right note, with four points. Scratch that. Tayab reviews it and cuts it short to 2-0. Deepak gets a single-leg grip, but the Pakistani grappler holds his own and gets two points of his own. Nehra gets one back and holds on to the lead. 3-2 at the end of the first half.
Deepak holds nothing back at the start of the second half. He brings his opponent down and rolls his over for good measure. SIX POINTS there for him. 9-2. Deepak close to winning a bronze here. Tayab has a mountain to climb in the last one minute. Deepak nicks one more point to make it 10-2. The Pakistani grappler is forced to give up an attacking position, but Deepak can’t make it count. it doesn’t matter as the clock runs down and India wins yet another medal from the mat.
Womens Freestyle 76 kg Bronze Medal match- Pooja Sihag vs Naomi de Bruine (Australia) - Pooja wins
And the bronze medal bout begins. de Bruine is soon out on the back foot. Sihag puts in all her might to get in two points. She rolls over her rival twice to add four more points. 6-0. Few more attacking moves and the bronze medal is hers. Two more points added and it is 8-0 at the end of first half.
Second round begins and de Bruine prolongs the struggle. But she couldn’t hold on for far too long as Pooja pushes her out and adds another point. Wins India a bronze medal.
Mens Freestyle 74 kg Gold Medal match- Naveen vs Muhammad Tahir (Pakistan) - Naveen wins
It is India vs Pakistan in the 74 kg men’s category. Naveen has an opportunity to push India’s gold tally to six. Both wrestlers test each other in the early stages. Both unrelenting amidst the intensity of the final. Finally Naveen breaks free. He scores a two and tries to go all out, but Tahir gets back on. The half ends with Naveen leading at 2-0.
Second half begins and the parity between these two wrestlers is what stands out. Tahir gets an inactivity clock against him and Naveen runs it down and adds few points of his own. He makes it 9-0. One point away lies the gold for Naveen.
Just under one minute to go and Tahir needs an almighty escape to win the gold medal. Naveen shows his class as he holds his opponent at arms length and wins India its 6th gold medal from the Wrestling Arena.
Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Nordic round final match - Vinesh Phogat vs Chamodaya Don (Sri Lanka)
Vinesh Phogat will win gold for sure if she can defeat her Lankan rival. She is on the front foot straight away and has four points straight away. She locks Don in a neck lock and the Lankan grappler is struggling. She gives up soon and Vinesh has hardly broken a sweat. GOLD NO. 11 for India.
Mens Freestyle 57 kg Gold Medal match - Ravi Kumar Dahiya vs Ebikewenimo Welson (Nigeria) - Ravi Kumar wins
Ravi Kumar Dahiya has a chance to deliver India its first gold medal of the day. Ebikewenimo Welson is an experienced grappler with three CWG medals to his credit. But no gold, yet.
The bout begins and it is Welson who tries for an attack. But Ravi soon turns the table and Welson is forced to go on the defense. But the hold-off crumbles and Ravi puts him down and piles on the misery by rolling him around. EIGHT POINTS for Ravi. He soon twists the Nigeria around to complete the formality. The Indian wrestler wins. As dominant as it gets for Ravi Kumar Dahiya. His rise shows no signs of stopping.
Women’s Freestyle 50 kg Bronze Medal match - Pooja Gehlot vs Christelle Letchidjio (Scotland) - Pooja wins
Pooja Gehlot begins her bronze medal bout. Letchidjio holding up to the Indian so far. Pooja finally breaks her resolve and with one single move, she pulls away. 10-2. Pooja is one attack away from winning the bronze. Letchidjio survives the first half. The way the Scottish grappler started might have put off Puja for a second or two. But she soon asserted her dominance.
Second half begins and Pooja would love to finish this bout and get to the medal. And that is exactly what she did. Finds a gap for a single-legger and seals the deal.
Pooja Gehlot will start off for India in the medal half of the second day. She will be up in the Women’s Freestyle 50 kg bronze medal match against Scotland’s Christelle Letchidjio, whom she had beaten earlier today.
India’s wrestling campaign is heading toward an exciting conclusion. Here are the medal games set to happen today:
- Women’s Freestyle 50 kg Bronze Medal match - Pooja Gehlot vs Christelle Letchidjio (Scotland)
- Mens Freestyle 57 kg Gold Medal match - Ravi Kumar Dahiya vs Ebikewenimo Welson (Nigeria)
- Mens Freestyle 74 kg Gold Medal match - Naveen vs Muhammad Tahir (Pakistan)
- Womens Freestyle 76 kg Bronze Medal match- Pooja Sihag vs Naomi de Bruine (Australia)
- Mens Freestyle 97kg Bronze Medal match - Deepak Nehra vs Tayab Raza (Pakistan)
Vinesh Phogat can also seal her third CWG gold medal if she can overcome Sri Lanka’s Chamodaya Don in the last game of the Nordic round in the women’s freestyle 53 kg category.
Confused about what the Nordic round is? Here is our explainer on it.
India’s performance in wrestling at the 2018 Gold Coast games
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| India | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
As things stands, India has three gold medals, one silver and two bronzes from the wrestling mat. With three more gold medals within reach today, India can outdo its gold tally from 2018. But it would not be able to go beyond the total medal mark it set in Australia with just a maximum of six medals up for grabs now.
Womens Freestyle 50kg - Pooja Gehlot Vs Madison Parks (CANADA) - Madison Parks wins.
Pooja Gehlot in red. She attacks straight away but Madison Parks defends cleanly to stay safe. Pooja desperate to get a break through in this semifinals. Another attack and the Canadian defends with splayed legs. Finally Parks’ defense breaks and Pooja charges through. Wins four points for her efforts. The Indian wrestler’s intent has been evident in this bout, but Madison Parks drags this semifinals to the second half.
Pooja wins two points straight after the break but Madison strikes back with two points of her own. The game is still alive as the Canadian shows off her attacking grips and wins two more points - 6-4 the score now. Just 60 seconds left. It is Pooja’s turn to go defensive. Madison pushes Pooja out of the mat. Makes it 6-5. With just two seconds left, Madison pins her opponent down to seal an incredible comeback win. 9-6 is the score. Heartbreak for Pooja.
Mens Freestyle 57kg Semifinals - Ravi Kumar Dahiya vs Vs Ali Asad (Pakistan) - Ravi Kumar wins.
The 24-year-old will be looking to seal his first ever CWG medal. He will have to deal with Pakistan’s Ali Asad for that. Ali almost gets past Ravi’s defense. But the Indian counter-attacks and steals two points there. Another attack from Ravi and this time double the points. 6-0 the score now.
Ali finally gets a hold off Ravi Kumar and wins two points. Ravi bounces back and pushes the score to 10-2. He would love to finish it in the first half itself. He strangles Asad but the Pakistani grappler somehow saves himself from the lock and succeeds in pushing the game into the second half. 12-4 the score.
Ravi Kumar puts an end to Ali Asad’s resistance. Another finalist for India and another Wrestling medal assured.
Mens Freestyle 74 kg semifinals- Naveen Vs Charlie Bowling (England) - Naveen wins
Naveen wins the first point as he pushes Bowling off the mat. Bowling has the crowd behind him, but Naveen is least bothered by it. He puts the Englishman down for three more points. Another two points. Ruthless from Naveen, he punishes Charlie with some slick moves. 9-0 as we close in on the half time. Charlie Bowling challenges to keep himself in the game and he picks up his first point.
Naveen wins one more point, but Charlie survives and the bout will move to the second half. But his resistance lasts only a few seconds as Naveen gets the job done with an easy pin. He is into the finals.
Womens Freestyle 76 Kg semifinals- Pooja Sihag vs Justina di Stasio (Canada) - di Stasio wins.
di Stasio begins the bout positively. She wins a point to start off. Passivity warning issued against Pooja Sihag. Despite that, di Stasio attacks and wins three more points. It is advantage Canada at this moment. The first half winds up and Pooja is left with a four-point deficit to make up.
di Stasio pushes her opponent out of the mat for yet another point. Pooja tries to sneak in a leg grab, but the Canadian is sharp with her defense and soon steals one more point. This game looks beyond the grasp of the Indian wrestler. Under one minute to go and Pooja hasn’t succeeded to get in one good attack. di Stasio sees out the game and it’s another Canadian victory over an Indian opponent.
Mens Freestyle 97kg Quarterfinals- Deepak Nehra Vs Nishan Randhawa (CANADA) - Nishan Randhawa wins
Intense battle between Deepak and Nishan. 4-4 the score right now. Under two minutes on the clock and the Canadian on the attack. He wins two points and has a chance to seal the deal.
6-4 the score with a little more than a minute left. Deepak needs to mount a come back. Nishan goes on the defensive. But Nehra breaks through and ties the score at 6 all. With two seconds left, Nishan sneaks in a single pointed and looks to have won it. YES he has. What a thriller. Nishan Randhawa wins and moves to the semifinals.
Mens Freestyle 57kg Quarterfinals - Ravi Kumar Dahiya vs Vs Suraj Singh (NZL) - Ravi Kumar wins
Suraj Singh defends well early. But Ravi breaks through and rolls over his opponent. Goes for a spin until the referee puts and end to the bout. Ravi Kumar wins and progresses to the semifinals.
Mens Freestyle quarterfinals- Naveen Vs Hong Leow Yew of Singapore Naveen wins
Naveen barely needed a minute to finish off his quarterfinals. Way too easy for the Indian there. He strides into the semifinals. One win away from the final.
Womens Freestyle 76 Kg Quarterfinals- Pooja Sihag Vs Michelle Montague (NZL) - Pooja Sihag wins
Pooja Shihag begins her CWG journey straight from the quarterfinals. Closing in on two minutes and both wrestlers are yet to make a defining move. Finally, Montague is punished for inactivity and Pooja wins her first point. 1-0 at the end of the first half of what has been a cagey affair.
Second half begins and Michelle Montague is on the attack. Pooja Shihag is under pressure for inactivity now and Michelle wins he first point. Pooja finally gets in a authoritative move. Get four points as reward. 5-1 Under one minute on the clock.
With 20 seconds leftr on the Michelle goes on the charge. Pushes Pooja to the mat and wins two points. She tried her best overcome the deficit, but Pooja clings on to the position and scratch out an impressive strategic win. Pooja Sihag into the Semifinals.
Womens Freestyle 53kg Nordic round- Vinesh Phogat Vs Mercy Bolafunoluwa (NIGERIA) - Vinesh Phogat wins
A win will almost confirm Phogat a gold medal. She starts strongly. Steals two points early. Two more points in her kitty as she dominates the Nigerian. Phogat hasn’t given her opponent a chance to score a point as she closes out the first half at 4-0.
Bolafunoluwa finally sets off on an attack. But she loses her defensive position and gives Vinesh a chance to end the contest by pinning her to the mat. Vinesh is in full control as she holds her opponent down and it has come down to a deadlock and Phogat doesn’t mind being in this position. She has this game in her hand and the game ends. Vinesh Phogat wins!! Not the prettiest win, but she will take it.
Pooja Gehlot qualifies for the semifinals after her Cameroonian opponent forfeited the bout.
Mens Freestyle 1/8 Finals- Naveen Vs Ogbonna Immanuel John (NIGERIA) - Naveen wins
Naveen progresses to the Quarterfinals with ease by a score of 13-3. Win by technical superiority for the Indian. He will now face Hong Leow Yew of Singapore in the quarterfinals.
Womens Freestyle 53kg Nordic Match 2- Vinesh Phogat Vs Samantha Stewart (CANADA) - Vinesh wins by fall
Vinesh Poghat doesn’t take too long to seal that. All of 36 seconds before she pinned her Canadian opponent to the mat. Mercy Bolafunoluwa (NIGERIA) will be her next opponent.
Womens Freestyle 50kg Group A- Pooja Gehlot Vs Christelle Lemofack Letchidjio (SCOTLAND) - Pooja wins
Pooja Gehlot overcomes her opponent with ease. The scoreline read 12-2 in her favour and she was adjudged winner by technical superiority.
After a handsome collection of six medals - three golds, one silver and two bronzes, the Indian wrestling contingent will continue their campaign on Saturday.
India will be looking to better its tally from the 2018 Gold Coast, where it won 12 medals including five gold medals.
Today, India will be pinning its hopes on Vinesh Phogat, a two-time gold medallist at CWG, and Ravi Kumar Dahiya, silver medallist from Tokyo.
Confused what is the Nordic round is? Click here to find out what exactly is it
INDIANS IN ACTION TODAY (3PM onwards)
Womens Freestyle 50kg Group A- Pooja Gehlot Vs Christelle Lemofack Letchidjio (SCOTLAND)
Mens Freestyle 1/8 Finals- Naveen Vs Ogbonna Immanuel John (NIGERIA)
Womens Freestyle 50kg Group A- Pooja Gehlot Vs Rebecca Ndolo Muambo (CAMEROON)
Womens Freestyle 53kg Nordic Match 3- Vinesh Phogat Vs Mercy Bolafunoluwa (NIGERIA)
Womens Freestyle 76 Kg Quarterfinals- Pooja Sihag Vs Michelle Montague (NZL)
Mens 57kg Quarterfinals- Ravi Kumar Dahiya Vs Suraj Singh (NZL)
Womens Freestyle 53kg Nordic Match 2- Vinesh Phogat Vs Samantha Stewart (CANADA)
Mens Freestyle 97kg Quarterfinals- Deepak Nehra Vs Nishan Randhawa (CANADA)
Womens Freestyle 53 Kg Nordic Match 6- Vinesh Phogat Vs Chamodya Keshani (SRI Lanka)