Anshu is first Indian woman to reach World C’ship final

Anshu Malik

Anshu Malik on Wednesday created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the World Championship final when she outclassed junior European champion Solomiia Vynnyk even as Sarita Mor lost her semi-final after shocking world champion and will fight for a bronze here.

Anshu, 19, the reigning Asian champion, controlled the semi-final from the beginning and won by technical superiority in the 57kg category to go into history books. Only four Indian women wrestlers have won medals at the Worlds and all of them - Geeta Phogat (2012), Babita Phogat (2012), Pooja Dhanda (2018) and Vinesh Phogat (2019) - have clinched bronze.

Sixth Indian in final

Anshu also became only the sixth Indian ever to make the Worlds gold medal match after Bishambar Singh (1967), Sushil Kumar (2010), Amit Dahiya (2013), Bajrang Punia (2018) and Deepak Punia (2019). India have only one world Champion in Sushil till date and Anshu can create another history on Thursday. Anshu's win also ensured India's first medal from this edition of the event.

Anshu was clever with her moves. At least thrice, she effected take-down moves from the left of Vynnyk and finished the bout with an exposure move. The Nidani girl started competing in the senior circuit only from last year and has made a steady progress since then. She also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Earlier, she was hardly troubled by Kazakhstan's Nilufar Raimova, whom she beat by technical superiority and later outwitted Mongolia's Davaachimeg Erkhembayar 5-1 in the quarter-finals. Seasoned Sarita Mor shocked defending champion Linda Morais 8-2 in her opening bout and beat Germany's Sandra Paruszewski 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

Sarita to fight for bronze

Up against the reigning European champion from Bulgaria Bilyana Zhivkova Duodova, Sarita fought her heart out, but lost 0-3. She will now fight for a bronze.

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