India's U23 Wrestling Team Triumphs at Asian Championships
Historic Victory for Indian Freestyle Wrestlers
New Delhi [India], May 27 (Media House): The Indian men's freestyle wrestling team has emerged as the champions at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships held in Da Nang, Vietnam, securing the Team Championship Trophy with an impressive first-place finish.
India showcased its dominance in freestyle wrestling, finishing ahead of strong competitors Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, who took the second and third spots, respectively.
This remarkable achievement capped off an outstanding continental performance by the Indian team, which collectively earned a total of 27 medals, including eleven gold, seven silver, and nine bronze across Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling, and Greco-Roman categories, as reported by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The freestyle team concluded their campaign with nine medals, comprising four gold, three silver, and two bronze. Akshay T Dhere (57kg) and Vicky (97kg) set the pace with their gold medal victories, followed by Kumar Mohit (65kg) and Chandermohan (79kg), who also claimed gold. Deepak Rathi (61kg), Punit Kumar (92kg), and Lacky (125kg) contributed silver medals, while Deepak Berwal (74kg) and Mor Sachin (82kg) secured bronze finishes.
“Winning the U23 Asian Championship Trophy is a significant milestone for Indian wrestling and a source of great pride for our nation. Our freestyle wrestlers have demonstrated exceptional determination and skill, outperforming top wrestling nations like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan,” stated Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India.
“Our athletes across all styles have shown that the future of Indian wrestling is incredibly promising. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all medalists, coaches, and support staff for making this historic victory possible,” he added.
India's women wrestlers also excelled during the tournament, achieving ten medals in total. The women's team secured six gold medals, with Muskan (53kg), Tapasya (57kg), Bhagyashree (62kg), Pulkit (67kg), Mansi (68kg), and Kajal (76kg) all demonstrating their technical prowess in their respective matches. Neha (59kg) and Sweety (50kg) earned silver medals, while Amruta (72kg) and Ahilya (55kg) completed the podium finishes with bronze.
In the Greco-Roman category, Indian wrestlers made a strong impact early in the tournament, achieving eight medals. Sumit led the way with a gold in the 63kg division, while Suraj (60kg) and Sagar Singh (67kg) earned silver medals. Neeraj Patel (55kg), Sachin (77kg), Rohit Bura (87kg), Rohit (97kg), and Hardeep (130kg) added to the medal tally with bronze finishes.
With the successful conclusion of the U23 championships, attention will now turn to the sub-junior team. The U17 Asian Wrestling Championships are set to begin at the same venue in Da Nang tomorrow, with the first matches kicking off at 10 AM.