Women grapplers Vinesh Phogat and Geetika Jakhar bagged a bronze medal each in 48kg and 63kg freestyle events respectively as India made an impressive start in their wrestling campaign at the Asian Games here on Saturday.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold winner Vinesh needed two minutes 31 seconds to beat Narangerel Erdenesukh of Mongolia in a completely one-sided bronze-medal bout. The referee stopped the bout after the Indian had taken 10-0 lead over her hapless opponent.
Earlier, she made it to quarters, pinning down Yongmi Pak of North Korea in a 3-1 ‘decision by point’ verdict. The Indian then recorded a verdict by fall win over Dauletbike Yakhshi Muratova of Uzbekistan in quarterfinals before losing to Eri Tosaka of Japan in the semifinals.
Geetika dominated in her bronze-medal bout against Vietnam’s ly Thi Hien as she pinned down her opponent in just 55 seconds in a victory by fall verdict.
A silver medalist at the CWG, Geetika defeated Kazakhstan’s Yekaterina larionova 3-1 in her first bout before outplaying Jaratrawee Autnun of Thaliand in a victory by fall verdict to make it to the semifinals. In the semis, however, she lost to Zhuoma Xilou of China.