The Hindu : Sport / Wrestling : Geetika defies injury to grab gold

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Geetika defies injury to grab gold

Sports Reporter

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

IN CONTROL: Geetika Jakhar (left) has Geeta in her grip in their 63kg freestyle bout on Sunday.

NAWABGANJ: Geetika Jakhar defied a nagging back injury to recapture the 63kg women’s title in the 53rd National wrestling championship at the Nandini Nagar College sports complex here on Sunday.

The Arjuna Award winner overcame a strong challenge from Geeta to win the final on points. In the contest which lasted for two rounds, Geeta repeatedly attacked Geetika’s legs and tried to push her out of the ring. But the experienced wrestler showed her superb skills and presence of mind to turn the tables on her opponent.

In another thrilling title clash, Sonika, who last won the title in 2003 and had been nursing an injury, pipped Gursharanpreet Kaur of Punjab for the women’s 72kg gold.

The promising youngster Mausam Khatri upset defending champion Anil Mann to take the 96kg freestyle gold.

Devender disqualified

The last competition of the championship, however, left a bitter taste in the mouth as Devender was disqualified from the 120kg Greco-Roman final after verbally abusing the officials. “He was warned and disqualified and his opponent Dharmander Dalal won the gold medal. However, Devender will get the silver,” the tournament director, Raj Singh, said.

The medallists: Freestyle: Men: 96kg: Gold: Mausam Khatri (Har-A), Silver: Anil Mann (RSPB-A), Bronze: Narender (RSPB-B), Rakesh Patel (RSPB-B). 120kg: Gold: Rajeev Tomar (RSPB-A), Silver: Joginder (Del), Bronze: Vijay Pal (WB), Rohit Patel (MP).

Women: 63kg: Gold: Geetika Jakhar (Har-A), Silver: Geeta (Har-B), Bronze: Rajani (UP-A), Pramila (MP). 72kg: Gold: Sonika (Del-A), Silver: Gursharanpreet Kaur (Pun), Bronze: Meenakshi (Har-A), Babita Singh (UP-A).

Greco-Roman: Men: 96kg: Gold: Anil (Har), Silver: Satish Kumar (Del), Bronze: Mahipal (RSPB-B), Ashok Kumar (SSCB-B). 120kg: Gold: Dharmender Dalal (RSPB-A), Silver: Devender (SSCB-B), Bronze: Rishipal (Del), Rakesh Hooda (RSPB-B).

Team championships: Freestyle: Men: Railways (59), Haryana (43), Delhi (40). Women: Haryana (65), Uttar Pradesh (47), Delhi (36). Greco-Roman: Railways (49), Services (42), Delhi (37).