New Delhi: Weeks after a disappointing performance in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, where she failed to win a medal, wrestler Manisha Bhanwala is on top of the world.
On Friday, at the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, Manisha became the first Indian woman to win a freestyle gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships after staging a sensational comeback in the 59 kg final against American Abigail Nette.
The 29-year-old Manisha looked down and out as she trailed 0-6, only to turn the bout on its head and trump reigning Pan American champion Nette 8-6.
The only other Indian wrestler with a World Championship gold is two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who lifted the Men’s 66 kg freestyle crown in 2010.
The 59 kg category is a non-Olympic weight class, but Manisha’s achievement is hugely significant.
Manisha, who is from Haryana’s Jind, is a seasoned wrestler who has competed in several weight categories — from 57 kg to 65 kg. This was her third World championships, and she drew on her experience to achieve a career-best triumph.
Having lost in the 57 kg (Olympic weight class) quarterfinal to Japan’s Akari Fujinami in the recent Asian Games, Manisha produced a series of impressive performances in Astana. Manisha outclassed World championships bronze-medallist Laurence Beauregard by pinning her to the mat, then overcame Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu before pinning Kazakhstan’s Altyn Shagayeva to secure her place in the title clash.
She showed remarkable composure and skill to come from behind and upstage Nette in a closely-contested final.
Manisha apart, Neelam Sirohi (50 kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76 kg) also advanced to the finals in Olympic weight categories, but had to settle for silver medals.
