World Wushu Championships: India’s Praveen Kumar wins historic gold

Shanghai: India's Praveen Kumar created history on Wednesday (October 23) in Shanghai as he won gold at the World Wushu Championships.

He became the first Indian man to win a wushu World Championships gold, beating Russel Diaz of Philippines in the 48kg category in Shanghai.

The Indian saw off his Filipino opponent 2-1 in the men's sanda event of the 15th World Wushu Championships.

Praveen had earlier defeated Uzbekistan's Khasan Ikromov 2-0 in the semi-final on Tuesday to set up the summit clash with Diaz.

Congratulations #PraveenKumar for becoming 🇮🇳 India's first-ever Men's #WorldChampion in #Wushu by securing #GOLD 🥇in the 48kg category at the #WushuWorldChampionships in Shanghai.#KheloIndia @KirenRijiju @RijijuOffice @DGSAI @IndiaSports @wushuindia_in pic.twitter.com/oBWEA9QacS

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) October 23, 2019

In 2017, Pooja Kadian became the first Indian to be crowned world champion in wushu after she defeated Evgeniya Stepanova of Russia in the women's 75 kg sanda event.

Wushu sanda is a martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close range punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps and kick catches.

(With inputs from PTI)