Sakshi Malik wins her first ever gold medal at Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022. The Rio Olympics bronze medallist beat Canada's Ana Godinez in the final of women's freestyle 62 kg category. Sakshi pinned her opponent down and won by 'victory by fall' with more than two minutes left on the clock.
This is also Sakshi’s first ever gold medal at senior wrestling international event. In the first period, Sakshi was trailing by four points. She reduced the trail in the second period with two points and eventually won the match in the fourth minute.
The 25-year-old has been battling for relevance for long, it was an ideal opportunity to get some confidence back and she used it to optimum level in the 62kg contest by winning her maiden CWG gold.
She began by pinning home team wrestler Kelsey Barnes and followed that with a technical superiority win against Cameroon's Berthe Emilienne.
In the final against Godinez, Sakshi trailed 0-4 after the Canadian scored on counter-attack. Sakshi's right leg attack got wrong as she lost position, allowing her rival to complete a take down move.
The U-23 World champion effected another take down to go into the break with a 4-0 lead.
Sakshi, who of late, has been seen succumbing to pressure reversed the trend this time as she initiated a right leg attack to throw the Canadian on the mat.
From there she used power to pin Gonzalez, turning the table on her rival in a sensational manner. She had won a bronze in 2018 in Gold Coast and a silver in 2014 Glasgow Games.
