Ulaanbaatar Open 2025: Reetika Hooda Strikes Gold, India Secures Five Medals in Wrestling
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/Patiala June 1, (Sports Desk)
Reetika Hooda Shines with Gold
Indian wrestlers showcased their prowess at the Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Wrestling Ranking Series on Saturday, with Olympian Reetika Hooda clinching the gold medal in the women’s 76kg freestyle category. The 22-year-old, who represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics, dominated her category with an impeccable 3-0 record in the Nordic system. She sealed the title with a hard-fought 5-2 victory over Mongolia’s world medallist Enkh-Amaryn Davaanasan in the final pool bout.
India’s Medal Haul
India added four more medals to their tally on the day, bringing their total to 17 medals (six gold, six silver, five bronze) at the tournament. The additional medals included:
- Silver Medals: Deepak Punia (men’s 92kg), Shiksha (women’s 65kg), and Pushpa (women’s 55kg)
- Bronze Medal: Jaideep (men’s 74kg)
Deepak Punia, another Paris 2024 Olympian, was a strong contender in the men’s 92kg division. He started with three consecutive victories, including a 10-0 technical superiority win over Mongolia’s Demchigdorj Tumurbaatar and a 4-1 decision against Bat-Erdene Byambasuren. However, an injury forced him to withdraw from his final bout against Askhab Saadulaev, settling for the silver medal.
watch……Asian Wrestling Championships 2025: Nitesh Secures Bronze in Greco-Roman 97kg
Jaideep, competing in the 74kg category, faced a 5-3 defeat to Iran’s Yones Emami in the semi-finals but recovered to win the bronze by defeating Mongolia’s Tugsjargal Erdenebat in the third-place playoff.
In the women’s categories, Shiksha secured the silver in the 65kg Nordic system with three wins in four bouts, while Pushpa also claimed silver in the 55kg category. Pushpa bounced back from an early loss to defeat Mongolia’s Dulguun Bolormaa and Otgontuya Bayanmunkh but couldn’t secure the top spot.
Setback for Manisha Bhanwala
Asian champion Manisha Bhanwala faced disappointment in the women’s 62kg category. Despite a strong start with a dominant win over Alina Kasabieva, she was pinned by Mongolia’s former world champion Orkhon Purevdorj, resulting in her elimination during the group stage.
Looking Ahead
With India’s impressive medal tally at 17, the final day of the Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 promises more action, featuring seven men’s freestyle weight categories. Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat will compete for the first time this year, raising expectations for another strong performance from the Indian contingent.
