'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Indian wrestler Navjot Kaur has climbed to the World No.2 ranking in the Women's 65kg category after winning the gold medal at the recently concluded Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
In case you didn't know...
Navjot Kaur was part of the Bengaluru Yodhas franchise in the first season of the Pro Wrestling League. She is a three-time medalist at the Asian Wrestling Champions with a bronze in 2011, silver in 2013 and the recent gold in 2018, when she achieved the feat of becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Asian gold medal.
The heart of the matter
Indian wrestler and reigning Asian champion Navjot Kaur has risen to the World No. 2 spot in the Women's 65 kg category recently released by United World Wrestling. The World No. 1 ranking in the category belongs to Finnish wrestler Petra Olli, who is the 2016 European Champion and 2015 World Championship silver medal winner.
Navjot Kaur achieved her career-best ranking with her gold medal run at the 2018 Asian Wrestling Championship and is currently tied on 18 points with Petra Olli on the World Rankings. She is one of the eight PWL players who has been featured in the rankings released by the United World Wrestling.
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat were the other female wrestlers who secured their names in the world rankings. Male wrestlers like Sharvan, Bajrang Punia, Rajender Kumar, Vikram Kurade, Manish, Kuldeep Malik, Harpreet Singh and Naveen also made their presence felt on the world rankings.
What's next?
Navjot Kaur will not be a part of the Indian contingent at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games that will take place in April but she is preparing for the Asian Games to be held later this year.
Author's take
Wrestling has always been a spot that has brought laurels to India and Navjot's rise in the rankings is a testament to the pedigree of Indian wrestlers on the world stage.
