Bajrang defends men’s 65kg gold in style

Birmingham: Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia was a class apart while defending his title as he conceded just two points en route the gold medal show while birthday girl Anshu Malik grabbed a silver in her maiden Commonwealth Games, here on Friday.

Such was Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang’s dominance in the 65kg competition that he won three of his four bouts inside first rounds. The 28-year-old defending champion beat Naurau’s Lowe Bingham and Mauritius’ Jean Guyliane Joris Bandou ‘by fall’ before winning by technical superiority against England’s Geroge Ramm. Canada’s Lachlan Maurice McNeil fought well against Bajrang but the Indian was far superior in technique and stamina as he won the bout 9-2. Bajrang has been struggling to play freely since last year and his over defensive tactics put a question-mark over his ability to extend his dominance in international arena but on Friday he made his moves without inhibition.

 However, the CWG is not the best platform to judge if Bajrang has got his mojo back because of the inferior field quality. Anshu, who has taken rapid strides in her career, reached the women’s 57kg final with similar dominance but ended up secondbest with a silver medal. The Nidani wrestler, who turned 21 on Friday, won by technical superiority against Australia’s Irene Symeonidis and Sri Lanka’s Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando Poruthotage.