Senior national wrestling: Satyawart Kadian defends 97kg national crown
Satyawart Kadian eased through the challenge to pocket another domestic crown at the senior national wrestling meet in Noida. He faced Monu in the final.
Defending champion in the 97kg freestyle category, Satyawart Kadian, barely broke a sweat to retain his crown at the 65th senior national wrestling championships at the Chandra Mauli Pandey Kushti Academy in Noida, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
With his rival and the Asian Games bronze medallist Mausam Khatri staying away from the meet, Satyawart Kadian romped through the competition.
Up against Monu of the Services in the final, the 2010 Youth Olympics bronze medallist, Kadian, clinched the gold following a pin in the opening round.
Satyawart Kadian, who’s married to Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, started well and kept the pressure on the opponent, trying to unsettle him with his movements.
Representing the Railways, Kadian opened his account after Monu was penalised for passivity. The 27-year-old Kadian then went for a leg attack after he was warned for his passive approach.
Though Monu tried to wriggle out, his efforts only made things worse as Kadian was all over him, forcing the referee to go for the pin.
Satyawart Kadian will be next seen in action at the national trials ahead of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in April.
Earlier, Haryana’s Rohit took the title in the 65kg freestyle category while Delhi’s Praveen Chahar emerged victorious in the 86kg freestyle division, the other two Olympic weight divisions in action on Sunday.
The senior national wrestling championships will return next weekend with the women taking to the mat at the Holy Light Senior Secondary School, Agra.