Pooja Dhanda Wins Medal for India in Wrestling World Championship

Pooja Dhanda is a 24 year old, Haryana based wrestler, who was competing in 57 kg category in Wrestling World Championship. She had lost to Ningning Rong in the quarterfinals on Wednesday and was struck up to the mark of winning the second medal for nation at Wrestling World Championship. She defeated Grace Bullen of Norway by 10-7 to join Bajrang Punia, who has also won a bronze medal at championship at World Championships in 2018.

Only two Indians could grab a medal this time at the championship. Pooja was able to execute one of the best performances of her career and achieved the bronze-medal in a match. She is only the fourth Indian woman to win a World Championship medal and this is her second big medal this season, having won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Before Pooja, only three women have won the medal at Wrestling World Championship, Alka Tomar in 2006 and Geeta and Babita Phogat in 2012 have won bronze medals for India. There is an interesting fact about Pooja that she was screened and originally selected to play the role of Babita Phogat in blockbuster Dangal (film), but she could not perform it due to an injury. However, Pooja later competed against and defeated senior Phogat sister Geeta Phogat in the real-life 2018 Commonwealth Games selection trials. "I'm feeling really good. It's a very proud moment for my country and I am the one who has got their pride and I'm really very happy. I want to thank the federation, my coaches, my physios and my players for supporting me and making me strong," Pooja told media after the match. Camping to the match against Bullen, the result of which came out to be a bronze medal, Dhanda began on defensive mode and steeply became aggressive and was even penalized for being passive. Before the break she was well with at 6-1 lead having come up with a point throw, followed by a leg lace on Bullen. Bullen then played cautiously and followed it with a takedown but Dhanda produced another 4 point throw. She led 10-3 with a minute remaining in the bout. Bullen got a step out and Dhanda was penalised for that. Bullen needed two more step outs from Dhanda to get her disqualified. The Indian wrestler was playing with fire as she was penalised again for going out of the ring. But she won the bout by 10-7 after surviving the last minute.

By-Anuja Arora

Content:  https://www.news18.com/news/sports/pooja-dhanda-lights-up-day-for-india-at-wrestling-world-championship-with-bronze-medal-1920171.html