India’s new wrestling hope Vinesh Phogat demonstrated impressive skill and composure at the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games in Indonesia, when she outclassed Japan’s Yuki Irie with remarkable ease in the 50kg category earlier this week.
Taking forward the legacy of her cousins Geeta and Babita, whose sterling wrestling journeys were portrayed in the Aamir Khan starrer Bollywood hit film ‘Dangal’, Ms Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to clinch a gold at the Asian Games.
This was the 23-year-old grappler’s second medal at the Asiad, having won a bronze in the Incheon edition of the games, four years ago.
The ‘Dangal’ actor took to twitter to congratulate the latest star of the Phogat clan.
The second gold for the country also came from wrestling, with Bajrang Punia’s expected 11-8 victory over Japan's Takatani Daichi in the men's 65 kg freestyle category.
But the third and most surprising gold for India, however, came from the field of shooting where Saurabh Chaudhary, all of 16, became the fifth Indian shooter to win agold in the history of the Asian Games.
Defying his age, the young shooter who was competing at the senior level for the first time showcased unmatched precision and maturity to snatch the yellow metal nonetheless from Japanese World Champion Tomoyuki Matsuda in the 10m air pistol event.
India's Saurabh Chaudhary, poses for photographers after the 10m air pistol men's final shooting event during the 18th Asian Games Source: AAP Image/ AP Photo/Vincent Thian
At the end of day 3, India stands at number 7 in the overall medal tally with three gold, three silver and four bronze medals out of which six have been bagged by shooters who continue to dominate India’s medal haul, followed by three medals in wrestling and its maiden medal in Sepak Takraw (kick volleyball).
