Defeating Christine Lemofack Letchidjio of Scotland, Pooja Gehlot secured bronze in women’s 50kg on August 6. This was the first time that the wrestler qualified for Commonwealth Games, and she already bagged a medal for India.
Pooja Gehlot Apologised For Winning Gold
After her medal ceremony, Gehlot spoke to the media and apologised for bringing only bronze and not qualifying for the semi-finals.
She said, “I wished the National Anthem be played here… However, I will learn from my mistakes and work on them.”
When the media asked what was it that she was carrying with herself home. The disheartened wrestler replied that she was only carrying bronze. Media people encouraged her that she did well and must be proud of her achievements because she was carrying a medal for the country.
PM Modi Calls For Celebrations
#WATCH | India's Pooja Gehlot gets emotional post winning a Bronze medal in the Women's 50kg Freestyle Wrestling
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2022
"I apologise to my compatriots. I wished that the National Anthem be played here... But I will learn from my mistakes, and work on them," says Wrestler Pooja Gehlot pic.twitter.com/LOHIMeMRHI
Replying to a viral video tweet of ANI where Gehlot was apologising for not qualifying semi-finals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote words of encouragement.
His tweet read, “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.”
Pooja Ghelot’s Journey To Commonwealth Games 2022
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! ⭐️ https://t.co/qQ4pldn1Ff
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2022
The 25-year old wrestler was born in New Delhi and has always been interested in sports. Her wrestler uncle Dharamveer Singh introduced her to akhara (wrestling ring) only at the age of six.
She initially started playing volleyball. She was a part of a team that played at the junior-national level. After seeing Geeta and Babita Phogat winning gold medals at Commonwealth Games 2022, Gehlot got inspired to take up the game and represent the country.
Her professional training in wrestling started in 2014. She travelled at odd hours, then shifted to training with boys in an akhara. In 2016, she won the junior wrestling championship in the 48kg category.
First Gold Medal In 2017
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Gehlot took part in Asian Junior Championship in 2017. The tournament took place in Taiwan, and the wrestler brought home her first gold medal.
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Silver Medal In 1019
In the under-23 World Wrestling Championship, the wrestler won the silver medal in the 51kg category. The tournament took place in Budapest, Hungry. She was the second Indian woman to have won a medal in that event.
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In 2022, she also completed Yasar Dogu Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
Wrestling medal events have ended in Commonwealth Games 2022 happening in Birmingham. About 12 women participated in the event and have made the country proud by winning six gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
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