U23 World Wrestling Championships 2021: Shivani Pawar reaches final

Indian wrestler Shivani Pawar reaches the final of the women's by confronted through the qualifiers. That is a 50kg category that she confirmed the first medal for India at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2021 in Belgrade, Serbia on Wednesday.

Shivani Pawar is the reigning U23 national champion in her division. She will now take on Emily King Shilson of the USA for the gold medal on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Shivani started her campaign by defeating Anastasiya Yanotava of Belarus. She is a European silver medallist. She qualifies for the main draw and followed it up by defeating Ukraine's Tetiana Profatilova 13-6 in the quarters.

The Indian grappler then pinned the reigning U23 European champion Mariia Tiumerekova of the Russian Wrestling Federation to move into the final.

There is a high chance for Shivani Pawar to win the first-ever gold medal from India. That is going to be held at the U23 World Championships.

Also read: World Junior Wrestling Championship

Meanwhile, in the women's 55kg, Anju will have a shot at the bronze medal when she takes on Canada's Virginie Kaze Gascon.

Though Anju also came through the qualification round, she lost a close semi-final match to Russia. She lost in Wrestling Federation's Viktoriia Vaulina 5-4.

On her way to the top four, Anju defeated Alicja Czyzowicz of Poland (9-0) and the USA's Alexandra Wray Hedrick (11-8).

Later, junior world silver winner Bipasha also survived the qualifier. She took over to advance to the main draw of the women's 76kg.

Although Bipasha lost in the quarter-final, her opponent Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan reached the final. Now she has only the last chance left to win the bronze medal. And represent the repechage round.