Astana, Oct 27 Two-time U20 world champion Kajal Dhochak and Neelam kept India in the medal hunt at the World Wrestling Championships by storming into the semifinals of the women’s 76kg and 50kg categories respectively here on Tuesday.
Kajal produced a convincing 9-2 victory over Mongolia’s Davaanasan Enkh Amar to advance to the last-four in the women’s 76kg category after recording a ‘win by fall’ over Lithuania’s Kamile Griskiene Gaucaite.
Neelam blanked Belarus’ Natallia Varakina 6-0 in her 50kg pre-quarterfinal bout and advanced to the last four after top seed Russian Elizaveta Smirnova withdrew from the quarterfinals due to an injury.
Neelam stood out with her fast-paced attacks and strong defence when Varakina mounted a challenge.
Earlier, Rajnita pulled off a notable upset in the women’s 65kg category, stunning 2024 World silver medallist Kateryna Zelenykh 8-6 in a qualification bout. She later lost her pre-quarterfinal bout by technical superiority to Moldova’s Irina Ringaci.
Neha Sharma advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s 57kg category with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Algeria’s Achouak Djamila Tekouk but went down 1-4 to Belarus’ Iryna Kurachkna in the next round.
India’s Greco-Roman wrestlers drew a blank with only Lalit (55kg) making the medal round while the others cut a sorry figure.
(PTI News)
