ID :
145443
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 10:05
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https://oananews.org//node/145443
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Double delight in wrestling as Alka, Anita strike gold
Kushan Sarkar
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) India’s top woman wrestler Alka
Tomar and youngster Anita won gold medals in their respective
59 kg and 67 kg freestyle categories respectively to make it a
memorable day for hosts at the Commonwealth Games in the
Indian capital New Delhi Friday.
With Geeta winning India’s first gold in woman’s
wrestling Thursday, Alka and Anita made it a hat-trick of
gold medals. While Alka outclassed Tonya Verbeek of Canada,
Anita beat Megan Budyens of Canada winning the first two
rounds on points. Anita won 4-0.
India got another medal courtesy Babita Kumari who lost
her 51kg freestyle bout against Ifeoma Christi Nwoye of
Nigeria by 4-6 margin. India thus finished with six medals, 3
gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
The star of the day undoubtedly was Alka, who pinned down
her much fancied Canadian opponent Tonya in one minute and 49
seconds. Tonya, incidentally is a silver medalist at the
Athens Olympics in 2004 and a bronze medal winner at the 2008
Games in Beijing.
"Definitely, it’s the most memorable victory for me. From
today, the Nav Ratri has started and the Almighty was with me.
She is a seasoned fighter and I knew it wasn’t going to be
easy," said the girl from the north Indian district of
Meerut, who has been the face of women’s wrestling in India.
She has been a bronze medalist at the World Championship,
bronze medalist at the Doha Asian Games.
Wrestling runs in her blood as her father, uncles and
brothers are all wrestlers. She also feels that perceptions
about wrestlers have changed since Sushil Kumar’s bronze in
the Beijing Olympics.
"Sushil pehelwanji should get the credit for earning
respect for the wrestlers. Lot of people are taking up the
sport and the popularity will only increase in the coming
years," Alka said.
For Anita, the second girl from the north Indian
district of Bhiwani after Geeta to win gold, it was the
strategy plotted by her coach.
"Having fought against her in the World Championship, my
coach told me that my opponent usually retreats before
attacking. I was told that moment she takes a few steps back,
I should attack. It paid off," said Anita, who works as a
constable with the police of northern state of Haryana.
It was a painful sight to watch a teary eyed Babita at
the podium after she lost her bout pretty badly. PTI KHS
SAK
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) India’s top woman wrestler Alka
Tomar and youngster Anita won gold medals in their respective
59 kg and 67 kg freestyle categories respectively to make it a
memorable day for hosts at the Commonwealth Games in the
Indian capital New Delhi Friday.
With Geeta winning India’s first gold in woman’s
wrestling Thursday, Alka and Anita made it a hat-trick of
gold medals. While Alka outclassed Tonya Verbeek of Canada,
Anita beat Megan Budyens of Canada winning the first two
rounds on points. Anita won 4-0.
India got another medal courtesy Babita Kumari who lost
her 51kg freestyle bout against Ifeoma Christi Nwoye of
Nigeria by 4-6 margin. India thus finished with six medals, 3
gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
The star of the day undoubtedly was Alka, who pinned down
her much fancied Canadian opponent Tonya in one minute and 49
seconds. Tonya, incidentally is a silver medalist at the
Athens Olympics in 2004 and a bronze medal winner at the 2008
Games in Beijing.
"Definitely, it’s the most memorable victory for me. From
today, the Nav Ratri has started and the Almighty was with me.
She is a seasoned fighter and I knew it wasn’t going to be
easy," said the girl from the north Indian district of
Meerut, who has been the face of women’s wrestling in India.
She has been a bronze medalist at the World Championship,
bronze medalist at the Doha Asian Games.
Wrestling runs in her blood as her father, uncles and
brothers are all wrestlers. She also feels that perceptions
about wrestlers have changed since Sushil Kumar’s bronze in
the Beijing Olympics.
"Sushil pehelwanji should get the credit for earning
respect for the wrestlers. Lot of people are taking up the
sport and the popularity will only increase in the coming
years," Alka said.
For Anita, the second girl from the north Indian
district of Bhiwani after Geeta to win gold, it was the
strategy plotted by her coach.
"Having fought against her in the World Championship, my
coach told me that my opponent usually retreats before
attacking. I was told that moment she takes a few steps back,
I should attack. It paid off," said Anita, who works as a
constable with the police of northern state of Haryana.
It was a painful sight to watch a teary eyed Babita at
the podium after she lost her bout pretty badly. PTI KHS
SAK
