Despite sending a second-string team, India proved too strong for their opponents in wrestling as the home grapplers grabbed four more gold medals and a silver to rule the roost at the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Sunday.
2013 Asian Championships winner Amit Dhankar (men’s 70kg freestyle), Pradeep (men’s 61kg freestyle), Mamta (women’s 53kg) and Manju Kumari (women’s 58kg) won a gold each while Gopal Yadav had to settle for silver in the men’s 86kg freestyle after losing to Pakistan’s Mohd. Imam in the final bout.
India have so far won nine gold medals in two days out of the 10 on offer. They had swept all five gold medals on Saturday.
Leading the Indian charge, Dhankar hardly broke a sweat in beating Baijnath Yadav in the men’s 70kg freestyle final bout. The bout was stopped in the first round after Dhankar had taken a 10 technical point lead to the delight of the home crowd at the RG Baruah Sports Complex.
Pradeep took more time to beat Abdul Wahali as the Indian emerged 4-0 victorious in the final bout.
{{/usCountry}}Pradeep took more time to beat Abdul Wahali as the Indian emerged 4-0 victorious in the final bout.
{{/usCountry}}In the women’s section also, it was an easy day for the Indians. Manju made short work of W Weerabahu of Sri Lanka in the 58kg final bout as it was stopped in the first after the Indian had taken 10 technical points.
Mamata won the fourth gold for India with a 4-0 win over over P Wijesinghe of Sri Lanka in women’s 53kg class on the penultimate of wrestling competitions. There are five more events on the last day tomorrow.