BELGRADE: three-time Commonwealth Games champion Vinesh Phogat failed to fight back and was overthrown by Mongolia Khulan Batkhuyag 0-7 in a major surprise at the World Cup Struggle Championships here on Tuesday.
After winning a gold medal in India’s incredible 12-medal contest at CWG Birmingham, 10th seed Vinesh looked jaded and lost his balance in the closing seconds to be pinned by the Asian silver medalist in the women’s 53kg freestyle.
Batkhuyag took a 3-0 first-half lead before knocking the former world bronze medalist down in the dying seconds to take four points and complete a dominating victory.
Incidentally, Indian junior wrestler Antim, who was knocked out by Vinesh during tryouts, beat the Mongol in the Asian U-23 encounter early last month.
In the absence of former silver medalist Anshu Malik, Vinesh was a heavy favorite for the medal as she also earned a favorable draw after defending champion and Japanese sensation Akari Fujinami withdrew (injury). However, she was eliminated during qualifying.
India had more disappointment in store as Neelam Sirohi lost to two-time world silver medalist Emilia Alina Vuc of Romania 0-10 on technical superiority in the women’s 50kg.
French wrestler Koumba Larroque, who was fighting with a heavily bandaged knee, pinned Shafali with technical superiority in the women’s 65kg.
After winning a gold medal in India’s incredible 12-medal contest at CWG Birmingham, 10th seed Vinesh looked jaded and lost his balance in the closing seconds to be pinned by the Asian silver medalist in the women’s 53kg freestyle.
Batkhuyag took a 3-0 first-half lead before knocking the former world bronze medalist down in the dying seconds to take four points and complete a dominating victory.
Incidentally, Indian junior wrestler Antim, who was knocked out by Vinesh during tryouts, beat the Mongol in the Asian U-23 encounter early last month.
In the absence of former silver medalist Anshu Malik, Vinesh was a heavy favorite for the medal as she also earned a favorable draw after defending champion and Japanese sensation Akari Fujinami withdrew (injury). However, she was eliminated during qualifying.
India had more disappointment in store as Neelam Sirohi lost to two-time world silver medalist Emilia Alina Vuc of Romania 0-10 on technical superiority in the women’s 50kg.
French wrestler Koumba Larroque, who was fighting with a heavily bandaged knee, pinned Shafali with technical superiority in the women’s 65kg.
