Asian wrestling | Sunil Kumar secures another Asian medal

Sunil Kumar wins bronze at Asian wrestling championships, leading India's medal tally; Neeraj and Nitesh also eye bronze.

Greco Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar (87kg) claimed a bronze medal to open India’s account in the Asian wrestling championships in Amman, Jordan. Sunil, an Asian Games bronze medallist, defeated China’s Huang Jiaxin 5-1 to bag his fifth Asian medal.

The seasoned Indian went 1-0 up because of Huang’s passivity and took advantage of his par terre position to effect two gut wrenches for a 5-0 lead in the first period.

The 25-year-old Indian conceded a point due to his own passivity but defended strongly to emerge victorious.

On Wednesday, two more Indians, Neeraj (67kg) and Nitesh (97kg), entered bronze medal matches after losing to eventual finalists in their respective weights.

Two-time Asian bronze medallist Neeraj defeated Iraq’s Ali Abbas Mukasr Albidhan 3-1 but was beaten 9-0 by Kyrgyzstan’s Razzak Beishekeev in the quarterfinals. He will face Japan’s Katusaki Endo for a medal.

Asian under-23 silver medallist Nitesh beat Kazakhstan’s Illyas Guchigov 9-0 before losing to Iran’s Mohammadhadi Abdollah Saravi 9-0 in the semifinals. He will meet Turkmenistan’s Amanberdi Agamammedov next.