Indian wrestlers put on a dominant show at the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games as they bagged as many as 12 medals (including 6 gold medals) across categories. While top players like Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Deepak Punia, and Naveen won the six gold medals for India, new sensations like Pooja Gehlot, Pooja Sihag, Deepak Nehra, Divya Kakran, and Mohit Grewal brought the bronze medals.
Anshu Malik won the silver medal in the Women’s 57kg freestyle to add another medal to India’s rich haul of CWG medals. While many were elated with their performances, a few also rued missing out on the Gold Medal
Pooja Gehlot, who fought in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg and won the bronze medal looked really emotional after she finished third. Although she was happy that she won the bronze medal, Pooja was disappointed on missing the gold medal.
Such was the level of disappointment for Pooja that she apologized for not winning the gold medal on camera. While talking at the post-match press conference she got teary-eyed and said that she wished to see the national anthem being played. “I apologize to my compatriots. I wished that the National Anthem be played here, but I lost in the semifinal. But I will learn from my mistakes, and work on them,” said the wrestler while interacting with the media.
This video of the young grappler went viral and also reaches India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi who instantly shared a tweet lauding the wrestler’s effort and saying that her achievement demands for celebration, not an apology. “Pooja, your medal calls for celebrations, not an apology. Your life journey motivates us, your success gladdens us. You are destined for great things ahead…keep shining!” PM Modi tweeted
Notably, Pooja Gehlot defeated Christine Lemofack Letchidjio of Scotland at the Coventry Arena Wrestling Mat B on Saturday 12-2 and won on the basis of technical superiority.
