JOIN USSushil Kumar on Sunday created history by becoming the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal at the World Championships here.
Sushil had become only the second Indian to win an Olympic medal when he grabbed a bronze at Beijing Games in 2008, and the Haryana grappler followed it up by overcoming Russia’s Gogaev Alan 3-1 in the final of the 66kg freestyle event on Sunday to clinch his and India’s maiden World Championships gold.
“I am very happy with this win and this is bigger than my win at the Beijing Olympics,” an ecstatic Sushil said soon after his historic triumph.Especially after this win, Sushil has established himself as a firm favourite to clinch a gold in the Commonwealth Games beginning in New Delhi on October 3.
In Sunday’s title clash, Sushil struck early by opening up a 2-1 lead in the first period of the bout, and then kept the pressure up on the Russian with one more point in the second period to clinch the coveted gold medal.
Earlier, Sushil had edged out Hasanov Jabrayil of Azerbaijan 4-3 in a closely contested semifinal. After getting a bye in the first round, he then accounted for Akritidis of Greece, Martin Sebastian of Germany and Buyan Jav of Mongolia on his way to the last four. All other Indian contenders had crashed out well before the medal rounds.