In a monumental moment, 19-yo Anshu Malik scripted history by becoming first Indian woman wrestler to enter world championship final. The freestyle wrestler entered the elite club of Indian wrestlers who has made it to gold medal in world championship. She’s the 6th ever Indian wrestler in the club that has the likes of Sushil Kumar, Bajrang Punia, Deepak Punia and more.
On Thursday, October 7, Malik defeated Ukraine’s Solomiia Vynnyk in the 57kg category of the freestyle wrestling in the World Championship semi-final.
Details
It seems it was just yesterday that Indian wrestlers put the nation on the world stage after winning medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Bajrang Punia had a triumphant run and won the bronze medal for India in the Olympics.
Continuing the glorious run, freestyle wrestler Anshu Malik scripted history today. She entered the World Championship final.
The Facts of the Matter
Fortune favours the brave – and in Anshu Malik’s case – the persistent. After having a disappointing season at the Tokyo Olympics, the 19-year-old has been having triumphant run. The young wrestler scripted history today after winning her quarter final match against her opponent from Ukraine. She’s now the only woman wrestler from India to enter the final of World Championship.
Also Read: Meet Dr Apala Mishra – A Dentist & Poet Who Scored Highest Mark in UPSC Interview to Get AIR 9
How Anshu Malik’s Match Transpired
In the match, Anshu was on her toes and didn’t let her opponent Solomiia Vynnyk have a breathing space. She stalled the take-down attempts by her opponent not once or twice, but thrice. Over the course of the game, she asserted her domination and didn’t concede a single point.
Earlier in the tournament Anshu kept showing her prowess. Before her semifinal game, she defeated her Kazakh opponent Nilufar Raimova on technical superiority. In the quarterfinal she outlasted and outplayed Davaachimeg Erkhembayar by conceding just 1 point and winning the game 5-1.
Anshu MALIK 🇮🇳 made HERstory with her semifinal win and became the first Indian woman to reach a world gold-medal match. #WrestleOslo pic.twitter.com/ON3Vk09ZSq
— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) October 6, 2021
Can Anshu Malik match Sushil Kumar’s Record?
The young wrestler is now one victory close to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with wrestler Sushil Kumar. Sushil Kumar is currently the only freestyle wrestler to have ever won the gold at World Wrestling Championship.
Prior to Malik – Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat, Vinesh Phogat came close to the feat, but had to eventually settle for bronze medal.
Now Anshu is all set to take on Helen Louise Maroulis from USA. The American freestyle wrestler will worthy finalist for Malik as she’s the Rio 2016 gold medalist and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist.
“Did What Couldn’t at Tokyo Olympics”: Anshu Malik
After the game, Malik spoke to the media where she expressed her happiness. The Hindu in its report quoted Malik saying, “It’s extremely satisfying. I am so happy. It feels so good. What I could not do at the Tokyo Games I did that here. I fought each and every bout as my last bout.”
Also Read: Vikram Bhatt Secretly Married Shwetambari Soni Last Year, Mahesh Bhatt Confirms Report
Anshu Malik’s Trials and Triumphs
Anshu’s glorious run is all the more special as it comes after a disappointing run at the Tokyo Olympics. Earlier this year she made record by becoming one of the youngest ever Indian to qualify for the Olympics. This happened thanks to her Asian gold and Individual World Cup in 2020.
However, her hopes were quashed when the COVID-19 crisis affected the entire world, and India specially. Her father ended up contracting the virus and Anshu had to take drastic measures. She decided to train in her hotel room. Due to such circumstances, she couldn’t give her best at the Olympics and lost to Valeria Koblova in the Olympics.
