Senior Open Ranking Wrestling 2026: Itisha beats Pooja to win 76kg gold, World U-23 bronze medallist Nishu takes 53kg crown
Young Itisha Choudhary warded off a strong challenge from Pooja to win the women’s 76kg gold medal at the Senior Open Ranking wrestling tournament on the Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya campus.
In a keenly fought final bout, Itisha took a one-point lead before Pooja levelled the scores. Itisha gathered two more points to get back her lead and used her strong defence to emerge as the winner against an experienced Pooja.
World Under-23 bronze medallist Nishu posted a 9-3 victory over Himanshi to take the 53kg crown.
In 57kg, where Vinesh Phogat had registered but could not participate after being rendered ineligible by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), World U-20 silver medallist Reena emerged as the champion. In a one-sided final, Reena recorded a 10-2 victory over Kajal Choudhary.
Also read | India should focus on winning more wrestling medals in 2032 and 2036 Olympics: Alka Tomar
World Championships participant Vaishnavi Patil (62kg) defeated Anjali 8-6 to claim the yellow metal in another Olympic weight class.
RESULTS (FINALS)
Women: 50kg: Ankush (Har) bt Rachana (Har) 4-3; 53kg: Nishu (Har) bt Himanshi (Har) 9-3; 55kg: Nisha (Har) bt Naina (Har) 10-8; 57kg: Reena (Har) bt Kajal Choudhary (UP) 10-2; 59kg: Sito (Har) bt Simran (Har) 10-2; 62kg: Vaishnavi Patil (Mah) bt Anjali (Har) 8-6; 65kg: Anjali (Chd) bt Dishun (Har) 10-0; 68kg: Anshu (Har) bt Bhateri (SSCB) 16-6; 72kg: Bipasha (Del) bt Riya Kaushik (Har) by fall; 76kg: Itisha Choudhary (UP) bt Pooja (Har) 3-1.
Published on May 13, 2026