Dipanshi falls to Bayanova in Asian Games bronze-medal contest

Indian wrestler Dipanshi concluded her Asian Games campaign on Friday following a defeat in the women's 50kg freestyle bronze-medal match. Facing Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova, the Indian grappler was unable to secure a podium finish, eventually falling 11-4 in a hard-fought encounter.

The bout began with a tactical opening period before Dipanshi managed to break the deadlock, executing a throw that earned her two points. Bayanova responded almost immediately, leveling the score by forcing the Indian wrestler onto her front. The momentum shifted further when Dipanshi received a yellow card for remaining down on the mat for an extended period, a penalty that allowed her opponent to capitalize with a two-point turn. Following a brief pause for medical attention, the contest resumed with Bayanova maintaining control.

While Dipanshi narrowly missed out on a medal, the day proved significant for the Indian wrestling contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Sujeet Kalkal delivered a standout performance in the men's 65kg freestyle final, overcoming a 9-2 deficit against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev. Sujeet staged a dramatic recovery in the final minute, securing a series of takedowns to clinch the gold medal with only eleven seconds remaining on the clock. This victory marks India's first wrestling gold at the Asian Games since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition, where Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat both topped the podium.