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Why wrestler Neelam will have it tough in the final against the legendary Susaki
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Why wrestler Neelam will have it tough in the final against the legendary Susaki

The Indian Express·Pritish Raj·about 19 hours ago
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Neelam Sirohi, 26, stamped her authority in the 50kg semifinal to beat Asian Games bronze medallist, Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova, 7-3 at the Wrestling World Championships .

Neelam blanked Belarus’ Natallia Varakina 6-0 in her pre-quarterfinal bout and advanced to the last four after top seed Russian Elizaveta Smirnova withdrew from the quarterfinals due to an injury.

Tomorrow, her only hurdle on the path to make history will be one of the most accomplished 50 kg wrestlers in the world — Japan’s Yui Susaki.

The Japanese legend will be eyeing a fifth world title, while Neelam will look to pull off one of the biggest upsets.

Before today, Indian women wrestlers reached the final at World Championships only once; in 2021 when Anshu Malik entered the 57kg final.

However, on Tuesday in Astana, Kazakhstan, two Indian women wrestlers — Neelam and Kajal Dhochak (76 kg) — stormed into the final.

And all of it happened within a space of 15 minutes.

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“It is a historic day for us and…

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