New Delhi: Wrestler Sangeeta Phogat won a bronze medal in the non-Olympic 59kg category at the Hungarian Ranking Series tournament held in Budapest on Saturday. Sangeeta was one of the six wrestlers who protested against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar.
Started with a crushing defeat, then came back
Sangeeta started off with a crushing defeat but bounced back with a win in the second match. She lost her semi-final, but won 6–2 in the bronze play-off against young Viktoria Borsos of Hungary, the silver medalist at the Under-20 World Championships. Sangeeta, who had won the national championship in 62kg last year, started with a loss against American Jennifer Page Rogers.
Messages of congratulations from all of you are reaching me, I am very emotional at this moment.
Many thanks to all of you. This medal is not mine only. all are medals of all of you
– Advertisement –I dedicate this medal to all the fighting women of the world who are fighting against crimes against women. pic.twitter.com/FyJnqhaHVZ
— Sangeeta Phogat (@sangeeta_phogat) July 15, 2023
Match lasted only 80 seconds
The contest lasted only 80 seconds, in which the American wrestler did not give her any chance to score. Eventually, the American player took the lead against Sangeeta and won. The Indian wrestler managed to overcome it in her next bout against America’s Brenda Olivia Reyna. She went into the break with a 4-2 lead and consolidated it to eventually win the match by technical superiority.
Sangeeta did not lose a single point in the second period
One win and one loss in a draw of six wrestlers advanced her to the semifinals against Magdalena Urszula Glodek of Poland. Although she got off to a good start, Glodek soon dominated and won the match. In the bronze play-off against Borsos, Sangeeta took the lead with a take-down move. The Hungarian fought back to level the score at 2-2 but Sangeeta soon launched a fast and aggressive attack. Borsos defended well but Sangeeta replied to take a 4-2 lead. In the second period, Sangeeta did not lose a single point and added two points to her bag to win the bronze medal.
Medal dedicated to struggling women
Phogat tweeted after winning the bronze. He wrote- I am very emotional at this moment as all your congratulatory messages are reaching me. Many thanks to all of you. This medal is not just mine. Everything is a medal for all of you. I dedicate this medal to all the fighting women of the world who are fighting against crimes against women.
