Shivani Pawar wins silver in U-23 World Championship

New Delhi, November 5

Shivani Pawar won the silver medal in the 50kg category at the Under-23 Wrestling World Championship after losing to Emily Shilson of the US in the final. Shivani is only the third Indian woman wrestler to win a silver in the U-23 World Championship.

Shivani took the first two points after Emily tried to strike early in the first period with a single leg attack, which was countered well by the Indian. Trailing 0-2, Emily grabbed her chance when Shivani went for a leg attack which proved ineffectual — the American got Shivani in a side headlock and pinned her less than 90 seconds into the first period.

In the women’s 55kg category, Anju completed a sensational comeback against Canada’s Virginie Gascon to win bronze. The Indian youngster trailed 2-6 in the early stages but stormed back from there to win 17-6 by technical superiority.

These two medals earned by Shivani and Anju made it the first time that more than one Indian female wrestler finished on the podium at one edition of the U-23 World Championship.

In the 65kg class, Nisha Dahiya lost a hard-fought bout 4-8 against Anastasiia Lavranchuk of Ukraine. Nisha will have a chance to go for bronze. — Agencies