Geeta Phogat's run at World Wrestling Championship comes to a stop

Geeta Phogat is out of the World Wrestling Championships

Geeta Phogat went down in the repechage round of the 58-kg category at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas on Friday morning. The JSW-supported wrestler lost 10-0 (technical superiority) to Turkish wrestler Elif Yesilirmak in the repechage round.

Earlier, the 26-year-old had been drawn to face nine-time World Champion Kaori Icho in the first round of qualifying in the 58-kg category. In what was always going to be an uphill task, Geeta seemed to have begun in confident fashion, not allowing Icho any clear openings in the first 45 seconds. She even managed to get her hands around the Japanese’s waist but Icho was quick to break out of the lock. Over the next 30 seconds, Icho’s potent double-leg attack helped her garner 10 points, ending up as the victor by virtue of technical superiority.

“It was always going to be a difficult bout. She is one of the best wrestlers in the world. I tried my best to wrestle according to the tactics I had planned but it did not work as she was too fast with her double-leg attack and did not really give me any time to recover,” said Geeta.

With Icho progressing to the finals of the 58-kg category, the Indian was handed a chance of going for the bronze medal in the repechage round. However, her opponent, Yesilirmak, who had won the bronze at the World Championship’s 2014 edition, seemed to be in dominant touch. Once again, Geeta was floored by a series of swift attacks with the Turkish wrestler peppering her lower body with attacks, taking home a 10-0 victory.

“I thought I would be better in the repechage round having analysed my mistakes against the Japanese. But it just was not meant to be. I gave it my all but the opponent seemed to read my tactics well. There are lots of lessons that I will be taking with me from here and I will be working very hard on rectifying my mistakes,” she said.