CWG 2018

Commonwealth Games: Wrestler Mausam Khatri wins silver

Khatri joins the long list of medal winners in wrestling in the Commonwealth Games

Mausam Khatri won the silver medal in the 97kg freestyle event Mausam Khatri poses with his silver medal after the medal presentation ceremony | PTI

Indian wrestler Mausam Khatri settled for a silver in the men's freestyle 97kg event after losing his final bout against South Africa's Martin Erasmus in the Commonwealth Games.

Twenty-three-year-old Erasmus looked in better control and won the match by technical superiority after the scores were 12-2 in his favour.

Khatri had defeated Nigeria's Soso Tamarau in the semifinal to reach the final, but could not make use of the wealth of experience to outmaneuver Erasmus.

A bronze medallist in the 2010 Asian Games, 27-year-old Khatri also won the Commonwealth Championship twice—in 2009 and 2011. He also has a silver from last year's edition at Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia claimed the gold medal in the men's freestyle 65kg event. Bajrang overpowered Wales' Kane Charig with relative ease to register an emphatic 10-0 win for the gold medal on the eighth day of the Commonwealth Games.

Bajrang was awarded the victory by technical superiority as he didn't give an inch to his opponent.

Pooja Dhanda claimed silver in women's 57kg category at the Commonwealth Games while Divya Kakran won bronze in the women's freestyle 68kg by outplaying Bangladesh's Sherin Sultana 4-0.

Dhanda made a late push in the women's 57kg final bout against Nigeria's Odunayo Adekuoroye but had to be content with a silver medal, losing 5-7.

Indian wrestlers started off well on Thursday with Babita Phogat opening the country's medal account in the wrestling competition of the Commonwealth Games. Babita, who claimed a silver in the 2010 edition of the Commonwealth Games before a gold in Glasgow, was outmanoeuvred by Canada's Diana Weicker in the final.

Rahul Aware won gold in the men's 57kg category after defeating Canada's Steven Takahashi in an exciting contest. It was first Commonwealth Games gold in his career.

Sushil Kumar picked up his third successive gold at the Games after defeating South African Johannes Botha in the final.