Azhar Hussain. -Photo by AFP
Sunday, 10 Oct, 2010
**NEW DELHI: Azhar Hussain of Pakistan won his country’s first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold for 40 years on Sunday, beating Ebikewenimo Welson of Nigeria.**
Hussain gave an impressive performance of clever footwork and brute strength to take Welson out by a fall in the second session of the 55kg freestyle final.
“We don’t have the proper Greco-Roman coaches, but still we went for it and for the country’s sake we got the silver in the Greco-Roman and now gold in the freestyle catergory as well,” Pakistan’s head freestyle coach MH Omar said.
Pakistan had not taken a Games wrestling title since they won four golds in Edinburgh 1970.
“Like Sushil Kumar is for India, now the same Azhar Hussain is for Pakistan — a champion,” Omar said.
Hussain had earlier disappointed the partisan crowd by beating India’s Anil Kumar in a tense quarterfinal.
Kumar gave the loyal home support something to cheer about when he took the bronze, beating Craig Pilling of Wales 3-0.
He said: “Bronze is good but I wanted gold. So I’m not at all happy and satisfied. I prepared for gold at these Games for at least four or five years.
“Last night I didn’t get adequate sleep. That’s why I was tired and couldn’t perform 100 per cent. I wasn’t feeling very well. I had some stomach problems. I felt like throwing up all the time.” -AFP
:k: well good news for Pak at CWG
