A billion hopes were riding on the young shoulders of Anshu Malik in Oslo, Norway, during the World Wrestling Championships. She had already made history by winning her 57kg semifinal on Wednesday, October 6, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the World Championships. However, the 20-year-old from Nidani village, Jind in Haryana, fell short in her quest to become the first Indian woman wrestler and second from the country after Sushil Kumar to become a world champion. Her shoulder gave way as she lost via fall to Helen Maouralis of USA, 2016 Olympics gold medallist (53kg) and 2020 bronze medal winner (57kg). Anshu, the reigning Asian Championships gold medallist, was in control of the final in the first period as she thwarted all the attacks of the American wrestler. She led 1-0 after the first period from a passivity point. But all changed seconds into the second period when Maroulis first scored a two-point take-down and then accrued another two points for exposure and then pinned Anshu to win.
20-year-old Anshu becomes first Indian woman wrestler to win World Championships silver
