Pooja Gehlot enters semis of U-23 World Wrestling C'ships

Pooja Gehlot (53kg) stormed into the semi-finals to remain in the medal hunt as the women wrestlers continued their challenge at the UWW Under-23 World Championships 2019 in Budapest, Hungary on Thursday. It was a fantastic display from the youngster who started from the qualifying stages, where she demolished Ekaterina Verbina of Russia 8-3.

In the quarter-finals, Gehlot blazed through her bout, notching up a commanding 8-0 win to set up a semi-final showdown against Zeynep Yetgil, gold medallist at the Junior European Wrestling Championships in 2018. The semi-final will take place later on Thursday and will be streamed live on WrestlingTV.

Gehlot is the second Indian woman wrestler who remains in contention for a medal from this edition of the championships after Jyoti (50kg) made it to the bronze medal contest, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday night as well.

In 57kg, Pinki Rani advanced to the quarters from the qualifiers by dint of a one-sided 5-0 victory over Arian Geralin Carpio of the USA. Her run came to an end in the last-eight at the hands of Hannah Fay Taylor, who edged her 2-1 in a gritty contest.

None of the other Ind in action could win a round. While Ukraine's Ilona Prokopevniuk was declared a 2-0 winner by fall over Reshma Mane in 62kg, Nisha exited with a 3-11 loss to Maya Gabriella Nelson of the USA in 65kg.

In 72kg, Naina suffered the same fate when she was shown the door by Cuba's Milaimys de la Caridad Marin Potrille in a 13-3 victory.

( With inputs from IANS )