Astana: Manisha Bhanwala scripted history Friday, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships and only the second wrestler from the country to achieve the feat after Sushil Kumar, who claimed the men’s 66kg title in 2010.
Manisha clinched the women’s 59kg gold with a sensational come-from behind 8-6 victory in the final against American Abigail Nette.
Manisha was trailing 0-6 but mounted a tremendous comeback, showing nerves of steel to trump the Pam American champion to end India’s long wait for a woman world champion in wrestling.
Her triumph capped a historic campaign for Indian women’s wrestling, with three Indian women reaching the gold medal bouts in the same edition of the World Championships for the first time.
Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) had settled for silver Thursday after losing their respective finals while Tanmu Sharma won a bronze.
Manisha had stormed into the final with a dominant semifinal performance against Kazakhstan’s Altyn Shagayeva.
