Zagreb Open Wrestling 2023: Ashu wins bronze medal in Greco-Roman

This will be the country's second podium finish in the ongoing event.

India’s Greco-Roman wrestler Ashu won a bronze medal in the Men’s 67kg category at the 2023 Zagreb Open held in Croatia. This is India’s second medal in the wrestling ranking series with the first medal being won by U-23 World Champion Aman Sehrawat in the men’s 57kg freestyle category. Ashu defeated Lithuanian Adomas Grigaliunas (5-0) in the bronze medal playoffs match. 

Ashu lost to Iran’s Reza Mahdi Abassi in the qualification round who went on to reach the finals and the Indian had two repechage matches to compete in. In the first repechage encounter, Ashu beat Hungary’s Adam Phoilec (8-0) and then got better off Norway’s Haavard Joergenson (9-0) to reach the bronze medal match. A wrestler will have a shot at a bronze medal if his/her opponent in the opening round reaches the finals.

In the women’s section 2022 Asian Championship bronze medallist Sushma Shokeen lost to 2022 Commonwealth silver medallist Samatha Stewart in the quarterfinals in the women’s 53kg weight category. Prior to the quarterfinals, the Indian wrestler had defeated Tetiana Profatilova (10-0) with the match ending in the first half and in the second classification round beat Chinese compatriot Yuhong Zhong (6-2).

Reetika the other Indian wrestler in the fray in the 72kg weight category lost in rounds one and three and thus couldn't advance to the semifinals in the round-robin format. In the opening round, the Indian wrestler lost to Sumire Niikura of Japan (4-4) in a closely contested match and then lost to Elizabeth Grote of the USA (0-4).

India overall did not have a great outing at the 2023 Zagreb ranking series with the top wrestlers missing out on the season opener. The tournament is set to conclude on 05 February (Sunday) and Greeco-Roman wrestlers Narinder Cheema (97kg), Ankit Gulia (72kg), Gyanender (60kg), and Manjeet (55kg) will be taking part.