India Sweeps All 14 Gold Medals in Wrestling At The SAG 2019

India grapplers ended the wrestling competition at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG 2019) on a high as they took the top spot in the medals tally for the sport winning all the 14 gold medals. Thus, India maintained its dominance in wrestling. There were a total 20 bouts that were to be conducted on the ultimate day for the wrestling events and according to the rules of SAG 2019, a country can participate in a maximum of 14 categories only. Falling in line with the rule, India fielded 14 wrestlers in these games and clean swept all the gold medals in all 14 categories.

India had won 12 gold in wrestling at the SAG 2019 till Sunday. There were two gold medals at stake on Monday. Indian wrestlers landed in both these matches. Gaurav Balyan won the gold medal in the men’s 74 kg category and Anita Sheoran in the women’s 68 kg weight category as both the wrestlers hardly faced any resistance from their opponents.

Sheoran, who was making a comeback to the mat for the first time since 2016, took just 48 seconds to defeat her rival Sri Lankan female wrestler. On the other hand, young wrestler Gaurav Balyan won the gold medal by defeating the wrestler of Bangladesh in a one-sided affair.

Earlier on Sunday, Sakshi Malik, Ravinder, Anshu and Pawan Kumar had clinched the top honors for India. Sakshi showed glimpses of her old self on Sunday. The Olympic bronze medalist clinched gold and led the charge as India reigned supreme in all 12 categories on Sunday.

India had fielded seven women and as many male wrestlers in the South Asian Games. Among women, other than Sakshi, Sheetal (50 kg), Pinky (53 kg), Sarita (57 kg) and Gursharanpreet Kaur (76 kg) placed golden bets before Anita Sheoran. While, among the male wrestlers, Ravinder (61 kg), Pawan Kumar (86 kg), Rahul (57 kg), Amit (65 kg), Satyavrat Kadian (97 kg) and Sumit (125 kg) stood at the top of the podium before Gaurav Balyan.