At a training academy in Sonepat, coaches and fellow wrestlers gathered to watch 18-year-old Kajal Dhochak compete in the World Championships final in Astana. With no television broadcast available, the group successfully managed to stream the bout on a smart TV shortly before the match began. Kajal faced two-time European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva of Ukraine in the final. The match began with Kajal trailing 0-2 after conceding points for a push-out and passivity. However, she leveled the score at 2-2 by the end of the first period. In the second period, Alpyeyeva initiated a double-leg attack, but Kajal responded with a takedown to take a 4-4 lead on criteria. As the match progressed, coach Kuldeep Malik noted that Kajal’s posture left her vulnerable to leg attacks. In the final 20 seconds, Alpyeyeva secured a takedown to extend her lead to 8-4. Despite a late effort from Kajal, who managed one final takedown to narrow the deficit to 6-8, the clock ran out, resulting in a narrow defeat for the Indian wrestler. Following the match, Kuldeep expressed pride in his trainee’s performance, noting that the nervous energy he feels while watching his students compete remains high regardless of his years of experience. Despite the loss, the academy celebrated the achievement of a World Championship medal, with Kuldeep distributing sweets to the trainees to mark the occasion.
Article source: Indian Express | Image credit: Indian Express