Nitesh Siwach settles for silver; Mansi misses out

Nitesh Siwach missed out on a historic gold but secured India’s first silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games since 1962, while Mansi Ahlawat lost the bronze medal play-off in women’s 62kg event here on Thursday.

Nitesh, who had the opportunity to become India’s first Greco-Roman gold medallist at the Asian Games since 1962, went down 0-4 to Japan’s home favourite Yuri Nakazato in the men’s 97kg final. 
Mansi, meanwhile, was beaten 2-5 by Mongolia’s Altjin Togtokh, whose strong defence stood out in the medal bout.

Nitesh’s medal is India’s first silver in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games since 1962 in Jakarta where Malwa Singh (52kg) and Ganpat Andalkar (+97kg) won gold while Udey Chand (70kg), Sajjan Songh (87kg) and Maruti Mane (97kg) won silver medals.

In that edition, the same wrestlers had also competed in men’s freestyle also and won medals on both styles.

In the 97kg final, Nitesh tried to establish a two-on-one grip from the opening seconds but Nakazato refused to allow the Indian any attacking opportunity.