Sunil Kumar on Tuesday overpowered Azat Salidinov of Kyrgyzstan 5-0 in the 87kg summit bout to win India’s first Greco-Roman gold medal in Asian Wrestling Championships in 27 years.
Entering the gold medal bout after a come-from-behind victory in the semi-final, Sunil comprehensively defeated his opponent in the final of the 87kg category at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium here.
Another Indian, Arjun Halakurki, won a bronze in Greco-Roman 55kg, his first medal at his first senior international event. Arjun was leading 7-1 against Iran’s Pouya Mohammad Naserpour but lost 7-8 in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, a few grapplers from countries such as Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei were seen wearing masks as a “precautionary measure”.
Ahead of the championships, wrestlers from China were declined visas due to the outbreak of coronavirus there. “We have a contingent of around 28 and just a few of the wrestlers and officials are wearing masks,” Seyeon Lee, part of medical staff of Korea, said.