With Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and 2018 Asian and Commonwealth Games champion Vinesh Phogat watching, Navjot Kaur knew the final’s in women’s 65kg against Japan’s Imai Miyu at the 2018 Asia Wrestling Championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, could be a special one. And boy, it became a life-changing experience for her.
Before the finals, Vinesh had gone up to the nervous Navjot and told her “Didi you can do it and it will be a historic win for Indian wrestling,” reported Indian Express. The Chak De India! like pep talk was enough to boost the then 27-year-old Indian wrestler’s confidence. Six minutes later, India had got its first Asian Champion in Navjot Kaur.
She led the match 5-1 before the break, and when her counter-move after Imai targeted her right leg resulted in a throwdown to set up a 9-1 win.
It has been two years since that win. Now, 30, Navjot is eyeing a Tokyo berth in 62kg against the likes of Sonam Malik and Sakshi Malik.
