Anshu is decided to win a medal on the Paris Olympic Games.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
For somebody who has gained a World championships silver medal and competed within the Olympics, successful a National title might not be a giant achievement. But for Anshu Malik, who had a protracted damage layoff, turning into the National champion was an enormous reduction.
Anshu punched within the air and couldn’t cease smiling after she beat World bronze medallist Sarita Mor 8-3 within the girls’s 59kg closing within the National championships right here on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who had a troubled left knee due to a grade-2 ligament tear, most popular not to go for surgical procedure. With good assist from the Olympic Gold Quest, she travelled to Chennai to get rid of the nagging challenge via rehab and be competitors prepared simply in time within the Olympic yr.
“I am 70 to 80% fit now. I am looking forward to attaining full fitness as I am going to train in Japan, which is the best in wrestling,” mentioned Anshu, whereas thanking the Sports Authority of India and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the assist she is getting for her journey.
Anshu was relieved to get some good competitive exposure and declare the gold medal right here. “I had an elbow surgery after the 2022 Commonwealth Games and then a ligament tear of the knee. This National Championship was important for me because this is an Olympic year.
“There are (Olympic) qualifying trials and I wanted to see where I am lacking. This final was important because I had lost to her (Sarita 4-6) in the Asian Games trials, where I was carrying an injury. It was important to return to the mat with a win.”
The teenager, who grew to become the primary Indian lady wrestler to get a silver (in 57kg) within the Oslo World championships in 2021, mentioned she didn’t need to tax her physique by reducing down an excessive amount of weight.
“I chose 59kg here because after the injury I had put on weight. So the physio asked me not to lose too much weight because there could be a risk of injury. But I will now have to compete in 57kg (in the Olympic qualifier).”
Now Anshu needs to make amends to her disappointing exit from the Tokyo Olympics. “Now, my aim is to win a medal in the Olympics,” mentioned Anshu with loads of positivity.
