The Commonwealth Games may not be the best yardstick but considering that the Asian bloc is a powerhouse of the sport, Bajrang and Vinesh's gold medals at the Jakarta Games assume significance.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who are struggling with form for quite some time, could not make the top Grade.
Bajrang is the lone male Indian to figure in top-10 but the country has five female wrestlers who are in the top-10 bracket.
Yogeshwar is only the third Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal - a bronze at the 2012 London Games after KD Jadhav and Sushil Kumar.
The 24-year-old Bajrang has savoured an extremely successful 2018 season, winning five medals including three at Major championships.
The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games gold medallist Bajrang eventually had to settle for a silver, which is his second medal at the Worlds.
Celebrated Sushil Kumar is the lone Indian to have won a gold medal at the World Championship, achieving the feat in 2010 in Moscow in the 66kg category.
Snubbed for the country's highest sporting honour, Bajrang on Thursday met Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who had assured that his case will be considered.
Bajrang Punia, who won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, has been snubbed for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award this year.
Bajrang was nominated for the Khel Ratna by the Wrestling Federation of India following his twin gold medals at this year's CWG and Asian Games.
It has been learnt that Bajrang has already filed his nomination through the Wrestling Federation of India, while Vinesh is likely to be considered by the Sports Ministry.
The 24-year-old Bajrang notched up a 'revenge win' against Japan's Takatani Daichi in the gold medal bout of men's 65 kg category.
Bajrang gave India the first gold of the Games in Jakarta but the country's first medal came 600 kilometres away in Palembang.
In what seemed to be a rough day for India, it was Bajrang who stood tall as he defeated Japan's Takatani Daichi 11-8.
Indian wrestlers returned with 10 medals, including seven by women, from the ranking event in Istanbul, Turkey.
India's gold medal tally surpassed the previous edition with 15-year-old shooter Anish Bhanwala becoming the youngest contributor to it.
India enjoyed its best day so far in the Games, picking up three gold, three silver and four bronze medals but it also turned out to be the most embarrassing as race walker K T Irfan and triple jumper V Rakesh Babu were sent home in ignominy.
The two medals took India's tally to eight -- gold and silver each with six bronze medals.
New Delhi: With the untimely pull out of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, all eyes will be on London Games bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt as India will be hoping to break a 28-year-long wait for
Top News
Latest News
