Astana, Oct 28 Kajal Dhochak signed off with a silver medal in the women’s 76kg category at the World Wrestling Championships after losing a fiercely fought final 6-8 to three-time European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva here on Wednesday.
This was India’s second silver medal of the day after Neelam Sirohi also finished second in the women’s 50kg.
The two-time U20 world champion Kajal fell short of becoming India’s first woman senior world champion and only the second overall from the country to win the title after Sushil Kumar’s triumph in 2010.
She was ahead on criteria when scores were tied 4-4 but with just 20 seconds left in the bout, Alpyeyeva found a smart take down to seal the gold medal.
Nevertheless, it was a memorable show by both Kajal and Neelam as India celebrated two silver medals for the first time in its women’s wrestling history.
Kajal had produced one of the most memorable performances of the championships in the semifinals, rallying from a 1-7 deficit to defeat Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7.
(PTI News)
