Tapsya wins gold in 57kg, Srishti claims 68kg silver
New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- Indian wrestling has unearthed new talents at the World Junior Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria. Four Indian girls have stormed into the final of the U-20 event in the last two days, showing India's depth.
On Wednesday, Tapsya was up against Norway's Felicitas Domajeva in the 57kg final and went on to clinch the world junior title with a clinical performance. The 18-year-old showed good defensive skills and a flair for attack to win the bout 5-2.
Tapsya entered the contest with confidence. Domajeva, the first Norwegian to enter the World U-20 Championships final, gave a tough fight but Tapsya was up to the task.
It has been a whirlwind five weeks for Tapsya, having won both senior and junior world selection trials in back-to-back weeks. She will now make her debut at the Senior World Championships in Croatia from September 13-21. The girl from Jhajjar won the U-20 Asian title earlier this year.
"I learn from every bout and want to keep going till the end," she had then told HT.
India has been represented in the 57kg weight division in the last two Olympics through Anshu Malik. But with Anshu unable to reproduce her form, a bunch of youngsters have shown the fire and hunger to take the mantle. With this victory, Tapsya has taken a big leap forward.
Two years ago, her family shifted to Sonepat where she trains at the Yudhvir Akhada, an all-girls academy.
Till now, Antim Panghal was the only Indian female wrestler to win the world junior title, and she did it twice.
In the 68kg final, Srishti lost to Japan's Ray Hoshino 10-0. Two other finalists, Priya Malik (76kg) and Reena (55kg), will compete in their finals on Thursday. Reena, the Asian U-20 and U-23 champion, defeated Alexandra Voiculescu by technical superiority and will take on Everest Shea Leydecker of the US in the final. In 76kg, Priya defeated Evelin Ujhelji of Serbia 10-0 and will face Nadiia Sokolovska of Ukraine in the final....
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