Last year's bronze medallist Geeta Phogat crashed out in the first round of the 59kg category at the World wrestling championships and a similar fate awaited Pooja Dhanda (55kg) and Geetika Jakhar (63kg) in their opening bouts here on Thursday.
Geeta, who won a bronze medal in the 55kg division last year, was tamed by Olympic bronze medallist Yuliya Ratkevich of Azerbaijan.
Pooja, who pipped last year's bronze medallist Babita Kumari at trials for this event, was routed 0-8 by Ukraine's Iryna Husyak in her first bout in the 55kg section. Geetika, too, could not put up any resistance against Maria Mamashuk of Belarus.
Geetika, who won a bronze medal in Asian championships in Delhi, was trailing 0-5 when her opponent delivered a knockout manouvre and sent her packing.
India’s freestyle contingent made its best-ever showing in the meet, finishing sixth with 23 points in the overall team rankings. Iran topped the table with 46 points, followed by Russia (44) and Georgia (29).
