For the young wrestlers from the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) who competed at the recent Senior Open National Ranking Championship and U17 Cadet National Wrestling Championships held in Uttar Pradesh on April 16 and 17, it has been a green patch. The wrestlers won eight medals in total.
The wrestlers won two gold medals and four bronze medals in the U17 Cadet Championship, respectively. Karnataka-born resident IIS wrestler Shweta Sanju Annikeri (49 kg) won gold in her weight division. After winning bronze at the Cadet National Championship in 2022 and the Sub-Junior National Wrestling Championship in 2021, this is her third big national championship medal.
Liza Tomar, who competed in the 61 kg division, took home the second medal in the girl’s division—a bronze.
Sonu Hooda won gold in the boy’s event for the 60 kg weight class. Harshvardhan Bhoyar (65 kg), Mohammed Shazad (71 kg), and Ashvani Yadav (71 kg) took home the final three bronze medals. The honours extended beyond the Cadet championships. Pushpa Yadav (53 kg) and Harshita (72 kg), two up-and-coming women’s wrestlers from IIS, won two silver medals in the Senior Open National Ranking Championship, which was held concurrently at the same location.