Sushil Kumar: The Wrestling Icon
One of India's most decorated wrestlers, Sushil Kumar, set a benchmark for consistency at the Commonwealth Games. He achieved a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals, winning in three consecutive editions. His golden run began at the 2010 Games in New Delhi
in the 66kg category. He followed this up with another gold at the 2014 Glasgow Games, this time in the 74kg category, and completed his trifecta at the 2018 Gold Coast Games, again in the 74kg class. His victory in 2018 was particularly dominant, with the final match lasting just 80 seconds, showcasing his sustained excellence over a decade.
Vinesh Phogat: A Trailblazer on the Mat
Vinesh Phogat has been a dominant force in women's wrestling, creating her own legacy of greatness. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to win three consecutive gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Her incredible journey started at Glasgow 2014 with a gold in the 48kg category. She then triumphed at Gold Coast 2018 in the 50kg category before securing her third straight gold at the Birmingham 2022 Games in the 53kg event. Phogat's ability to adapt to different weight classes and consistently outperform her rivals highlights her mental toughness and exceptional skill, cementing her status as a wrestling powerhouse.
Mirabai Chanu: Lifting a Nation's Hopes
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has become synonymous with Indian weightlifting, consistently delivering stellar performances on the world stage. After winning a silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow Games, she elevated her performance to win her first Commonwealth gold at Gold Coast in 2018, where she set a new Games record in the 48kg category. Four years later, at Birmingham 2022, Chanu was in a league of her own, defending her title with ease in the 49kg category. She broke her own Games record, lifting a total of 201kg to secure India's first gold of the event and her second consecutive one at the Games.
Bajrang Punia: Dominance and Determination
A powerhouse of Indian wrestling, Bajrang Punia successfully defended his Commonwealth Games title in 2022. After securing a silver medal in Glasgow in 2014, he won his first Commonwealth gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Games in the 65kg freestyle category. He returned to the mat in Birmingham in 2022 as the defending champion and put on a dominant display, cruising to his second consecutive gold medal in the same weight class. His performances were so commanding that he conceded only two points throughout the entire tournament, proving his mettle and experience on the big stage.
