Vinesh Phogat opened India's medals account in this edition of World Wrestling Championship in or Sultan, Kazakhstan, by bagging bronze in women's 53 kg category beating two-time World medallist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in third place play-off today. Vinesh though started slowly but soon used her experience to take full grip and control over her opponent to pin her down to win a strongly contested bronze medals play off.

Qualifying for Tokyo Olympics 2020

Earlier, Vinesh Phogat (53 kg) had defeated World Silver medallist Sarah Hildebrandt 8-2 in second repech round and had qualified for Tokyo Olympics 2020. Vinesh was too good for her American opponent and dominated bout from beginning and never allowed her opponent a grip in bout. In today's first repech, Vinesh defeated Ukraine's Yuliia Khavaldzhy 5-0 in a one-sided match while Seema Bisla (50 kg) got better off Nigeria's Miesinnie Genesis 9-9 on criteria. Last night, Vinesh and Seema remained in hunt for a bronze medal as y reached repech round in ir respective categories.

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Quest for a maiden medal 

Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh had begun her quest for a maiden medal from world event with a thunderous 13-0 win over Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sofia Mattsson of Sweden. Even though it sparked hopes of gold, her next bout against reigning World Champion Mayu Mukaida of Japan proved tough.

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Babita Phogat on sister's win

CWG Champion and Vinesh's sister Babita Phogat has congratulated Vinesh on bagging bronze and entering  Tokyo Olympics 2020. "Vinesh is first female to enter  Tokyo Olympics 2020 through  World Wrestling Championship which I am extremely proud of," she said. Babita has furr thanked Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, President of Wrestling Federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, for taking wrestling as a sport to ar level, and Chief Minister of Haryana Mahar Lal Khattar for bringing wrestling into focus.

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