JOIN USGrappler Sandeep Tulsi Yadav created history by winning India’s first-ever medal in the Greco-Roman category of the Senior World Wrestling Championships after beating Serbia’s Aleksandar Maksimovic in the 66kg division for a bronze here on Sunday.
Sandeep overwhelmed the Serbian 4-0 to grab a rare medal in the Greco Roman category for the Indians after Rajbir Chhikara (74kg) and Naveen (120kg) made early exit from the competition.
Prior to Sandeep’s scintillating effort, India’s best finish in the “classical” style of wrestling was a fifth place by Mukesh Khatri at the 2001 World Championship in the 54kg section. This is India’s best-ever show in the World Championships with three medals after freestyle wrestlers, Amit Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang, won a silver and bronze medal in their respective weight categories.
The freestyle wrestlers finished commendable sixth in the overall team rankings which also earned the country its maiden berth in the World Cup to be held in March next year. Sandeep had lost in the first round in the 2011 meet in Istanbul, Turkey.