Manisha Bhanwala scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. She also became only the second Indian wrestler to claim a world championship title, after Sushil Kumar, who won the men’s 66-kilogram gold in 2010.
Manisha clinched the women’s 59-kilogram gold with a remarkable 8-6 comeback victory over American wrestler Abigail Nette in the final. Trailing 0-6, Manisha staged a stunning recovery to secure the gold medal and end India’s long wait for a women’s world champion in wrestling. Manisha had stormed into the final with a dominant semifinal victory over Kazakhstan’s Altyn Shagayeva.
Also, for the first time, three Indian women reached the gold medal bouts in the same edition of the World Championships. Neelam Sirohi in the 50-kilogram category and Kajal Dhochak in the 76-kilogram category won silver medals after losing their respective finals yesterday. Tanmu Sharma also secured a bronze medal.
