Sajan Bhanwala bagged the first medal for India in the World Wrestling Championships

Digital Desk: Indian wrestler Sajan Bhanwala bagged the first Greco-Roman medal at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. He won the bronze medal with a score of 10-10. Bhanwala contested in the 77 kg Greco-Roman division and beat the Ukrainian Dmytro Vasetskyi in the repechage round.

Bhanwala won his first round against Aistis Liagugminas of Lithuania to open his competition. But, he was defeated at 0-8 by Alexandrin Gutu of Moldova, who made it to the final, thereby booking a slot in the repechage round for the Indian.

This is the first medal for India in the particular championship at the U23 level, with Bhanwala himself coming closest in the 2019 edition.

But, this time around, Bhanwala guaranteed that he wouldn’t return empty-handed and his determination boosted him to a victory over his Ukrainian counterpart.

The Indian contingent that was scheduled to participate in the event in Spain was drastically abridged after 21 of the named 30 wrestlers were deprived of visas for the competition.

Reports say the visas of the athletes were denied because they might prolong their stay after being welcomed.