JOIN USDivya Kakran bounced back from a big defeat to claim a bronze medal for India from the wrestling arena at the Asian Games on Tuesday.
Divya had suffered a crushing 1-11 defeat to Tumentsetseg Sharkhuu of Mongolia in the quarterfinals of the women’s freestyle 68kg category.
But with Sharkhuu moving into the final, the Indian earned another crack at a medal through the repechage route. The 20-year-old made full use of the second chance, outsmarting Chinese Taipei’s Chen Wenling by technical superiority after taking a 10-0 lead.
It was India’s third medal in wrestling after gold medal successes from Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat. India’s coach Kuldeep, while being a touch disappointed at the less number of medals so far, felt the likes of Divya were the future.
“She is one of our upcoming wrestlers,” he said, referring to the girl who grew up wrestling with boys in akhadas in Uttar Pradesh. “Today, even though she lost in the quarters, she didn’t lose hope. I hope she will be able to change the colour of the medal in the future events,” he said.
Kiran, the other Indian woman wrestler in action in the 76 kg class, lost in the quarterfinals to Kyzy Medet of Kyrgyzstan.
The men Greco-Roman wrestlers also failed to impress on the day.
Manish (67kg) and Gyanender (60kg) won one round each before suffering defeats in the quarterfinals. Chinese Taipei’s Hung Yinghua then defeated Manish in the repechage contest to slam the door on the Indian.