Wrestling News: As Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia puts it, ‘everybody likes to see medals, but they don’t realise how much hard work was put in to win that”. The USA wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt shared a post on Instagram of her bloodied self ahead of the world championships. She wrote “That one time, a year ago, where I got 15 stitches in my face the day before we left for World Championships , the looks I got in the airport lol. From then all the way to now. I’m so happy with how its recovered! Thanks to my Doc and here’s to that (fingers crossed) never happening again”. Owing to the injury, she failed to repeat her 2018 world championships medal-winning performance. However, six months later fully fit, she confirmed her Tokyo Olympics berth in 53kg.
Here are 5 other wrestler who overcame injury to become champions:
- Deepak Punia — 2019 World Championships
The youngster had suffered an ankle injury in the first round of the 2019 world championships. But the zeal to repeat his junior world championships gold medal and confirm the Tokyo Olympics berth in 86kg, he continued to play. But another injury —to the eye — in the semi-final forced him to pull out. However, his silver medal was enough to get him a place in Tokyo.
2) Yogeshwar Dutt — 2012 London Olympics
Yogeshwar Dutt had sustained an eye injury in the match against Kudukhov and had to tackle some of the best in the world wishing 45 minutes with his vision severely limited due to considerable swelling over his right eye. But he managed to overcome the shortcoming and fulfilled his dream of winning an Olympic medal.
3) Sakshi Malik — 2019 Matteo Pellicone Rankings Series
Sakshi Malik had entered the match with a bandage on her head. While the reason for the injury was unknown, Sakshi had a tough time during the match. Leading 1-0 at half-time, she lost 2-2 to Mallory Velte of USA on technical points. However, eight months later, the fully fit Sakshi grabbed a silver medal at the Asian Championships in front of the home crowd.
4) Elmurat Tasmuradov — 2020 Asian Wrestling Championship
Despite a broken rib two weeks before the Asian Wrestling Championships kicked off in New Delhi, the 2019 Asian Championships silver medallist Elmurat Tasmuradov had put aside the pain to secure his fifth gold in the 63kg Greco-Roman discipline.
5) Roman Vlasov — 2016 Rio Olympics
The 2016 Rio Olympics final was a bloody affair for the Russian great. The world champion and defending Olympic champion already had a bandage above his right eye and by the final whistle, he had blood in the mouth too. However, none of it mattered as he had successfully defended his Olympic gold.
