LAS VEGAS, Sept 13: Narsingh Pancham Yadav clinched bronze in the men�s Freestyle 74kg category to open India�s account at the World Wrestling Championships here.
Yadav, who also secured a quota place for next year�s Rio Olympics in the process, defeated Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France in the bronze medal match after effecting a stunning comeback here on Saturday evening.
Narsingh began the bronze-medal bout strongly, executing two take-downs on his way to a 4-2 lead. Khadjiev began in a rather slow fashion, but gradually fought back. In the second period, the French wrestler picked up the pace with three quick take-downs to take a massive 12-4 lead.
With the match seemingly done and dusted with just 40 seconds on the clock, the Indian bounced back in incredible fashion.
A perfectly worked headlock took Khadjiev by surprise and Narsingh finished off the move by executing an astute fall which handed him an impressive victory and a very creditable bronze.
Earlier, the 26-year-old Narsingh began his campaign in roaring fashion, brushing off the challenge from Hanoc Rachamin of Israel 14-2 in the opening round.
He continued in the same vein in the next round, defeating European Games silver medallist Soner Demirtas of Turkey 4-2 to move into the quarter-finals where he ovepowered Cuba�s Livan Lopez 16-5.
In the semi-finals, the Mumbai lad took on Mongolia�s Unurbat Purevjav. In a very close bout, Narsingh led the Mongol 4-3 till the last five seconds.
But Purevjav pulled level in the dying seconds by pushing Narsingh outside the mat and picking up a point. The Mongol thus qualified for the final by virtue of having picked up the last point. � IANS
