Vinesh, Sakshi end season with National titles

Vinesh Phogat capped a highly successful season by grabbing the 57kg national title while Sakshi Malik ended a terrible year by emerging champion in the 62kg at the Tata Motors Senior National Championship, here on Saturday.

Vinesh has already stamped her class at international level by winning the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games titles and it was just about getting some match competition under her belt after missing the Worlds due to an elbow injury.

On way to her sixth National title, Vinesh conceded just two points in five bouts. She had earlier won five Nationals in a row from 2012 to 2016 in different categories.

Vinesh, who competed in the 50kg, had prepared herself for the higher weight category with intense sessions against heavier sparring partners on Friday evening.

"I could compete as I wanted. I wanted some competitive matches before the next season. Also I felt no pain in the entire campaign, that's a big gain personally since I was competing in a higher category," said Vinesh, who had suffered a ligament and muscle tear in her elbow before the Budapest Worlds.

"I started practicing only 15 days back, so my rehabilitation has worked nicely."
"The first girl (Neetu) was very powerful and I lost two points due to my mistake. Two other girls were good but I am more experienced than them and that definitely helped. The more they train with seniors at the camp, the better they will get."