Asian Wrestling Championships: Nisha Dahiya bags silver; bronze for Priya

Recovering from an injury, Nisha, a World under-23 bronze medallist, defeated Asian bronze medallist Mongolian Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan.

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: Nisha downed China’s Feng Zhou in the semifinal, which she won 7-6 after trailing 3-6 in the 68kg bout.

Nisha Dahiya (68kg) picked up a silver medal, while Priya (76kg) took a bronze in the women’s competitions of the Asian wrestling championships in Astana on Tuesday.

Recovering from an injury, Nisha, a World under-23 bronze medallist, defeated Asian bronze medallist Mongolian Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan 10-10 via criteria and Asian Olympic Games qualifier champion Chinese Feng Zhou 7-6 to reach the final.

In the summit clash against Worlds silver medallist Ami Ishii, Nisha, who had lost to the Japanese in last year’s World championships semifinals, was pinned in the closing stages.

Eighteen-year-old Priya, a World under-17 champion and a World under-20 silver medallist, beat Chinese Taipei’s Hui Tsz Chang 2-1 before losing ‘by fall’ to Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Kyzy. In the bronze medal match, Priya relied on her solid defensive skills to pip Japanese Mizuki Nagashima 2-1.

Neelam (50kg) lost her bronze medal match 0-10 to Chinese Ziqi Feng.

Worlds bronze medallist and two-time Asian champion Sarita Mor (59kg) could not make it to the medal rounds after being beaten by two of her three opponents. She finished fifth among seven athletes.