INDIA will have to wait for its first woman world wrestling champion after Neelam Sirohi andKajal Dhochak lost their respectivefinals at the World Championships hereonWednesday,though the two silver medals marked a historic first for the country. Forthe first time,Indiahad twowomenwrestlers competing in the gold medal bouts at the same edition of the World Championships. Sushil Kumar is the only wrestler from India to winaworld title back in 2010.Neelam was the first Indian to take the mat, facing Japanese legend Yui Susaki in the women’s 50kg final.

 

Susaki, a four time world champion, had not conceded apoint en route to the title bout. Beating the Japanese was always going to be aHerculean task, given her extraordinaryrecord of just one defeatin an illustrious career. Neelam, however, held her ownfor nearly three minutes before Susaki found an opening. There was little action in the initial two minutes as Neelam kept the Japanese at bay. But once Susaki found her range, she launched aleft-leg attack to secureatakedown before pinning the Indian to the mat to seal the gold medal. The victory took Susaki’sworld title tally to five and further enhanced her reputation of one of the most dominant wrestlers of her times.