U23 World Wrestling Championships: India's Bhavika Patel Goes Down Fighting in Bronze Medal Match

India's Bhavika Patel, first female wrestler from Gujarat, went down fighting against USA's Armani Jones in the bronze medal match of women's freestyle 55kg event at the U-23 World Wrestling Championships, held at the Tirana Olympic Park in Tirana, Albania.

Bhavika, ranked 17th in the world, suffered a 5-2 loss against the American and missed out on adding to India's tally of 3 medals at the ongoing U23 World Championships.

The Ahmedabad-born wrestler opener her campaign with a 9-6 victory against Canada's Victoria Joie Seal in the qualifiers. But lost to Mexican wrestler Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra by technical superiority in the pre-quarterfinals, losing 1-11.

With Hernandez securing a place in the women's 55kg final, Bhavika progressed to the Repechage Round, where she defeated Aruuke Kadyrbek Kyzy 10-0 to storm into the bronze medal match.

Bhavika Patel had previously won the bronze medal at the National Games 2023 in Goa. She bagged four medals (one silver and three bronze) at school-level competitions and a silver medal at the Khelo India Games.

Bhavika has won several medals at the national level. She won three medals in senior competitions, including two silver and one bronze. The young Indian wrestling sensation clinched two junior bronze medals and a silver medal at an Under-23 national event.

Coming from a humble background, Bhavika fought against all odds to secure a place in the Commonwealth Championship and the U-23 World Championships. Previously, she missed out on a well-deserved spot in the Asian U23 Championships after losing the final bout in the trials.

Bhavika Patel's results at the U-23 World Wrestling Championships

Qualifiers: Bhavika beat Victoria Joie Seal - 9 - 6 (Victory by points)
1/8 Round: Bhavika lost to Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra - 1 - 11 (Lost by Technical superiority)
Repechage Round: Bhavika beat Aruuke Kadyrbek Kyzy - 10 - 0 (Victory by technical superiority)
Bronze Medal Match: Bhavika lost to Amani Jones - 2 - 5 (Lost by points)

While Bhavika was not able to India's medal tally, Monika won the third for the country by winning the bronze medal match in the women's freestyle 68kg category event on Thursday (October 24).

Monika defeated China's Xinze Du by points 5-3 to clinch the bronze medal after seeing off Slovakia's Zsuzsanna Molnar and Roumania's Maria Pantiru in the repechage round, having lost the pre-quarterfinal against eventual gold winner Ami Ishii of Japan.

Earlier, Anjli had won a silver medal in women's freestyle 59kg category, while Visvajit More had won a bronze in the men's Greco Roman 55kg event.