Chandigarh University’s
Reetika Hooda scripts history; becomes the first-ever U-23 Woman Wrestling
World Champion from India
Chandigarh University (CU)
student Reetika Hooda scripted history as she became the first-ever Indian
Under-23 Woman Wrestling World Champion in the 6th U-23 Wrestling
World Championships held at Tirana, Albania from October 23 to 29.
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Overall, Reetika is the
second Indian to win a Gold in the U23 Wrestling World Championships till date.
She defeated USA's former U20 World Champion Kennedy Blades in 76kg category
with a score of 9-2. What makes Reetika’s achievement even more special is that
it was the first time she competed in the 76kg category after participating in
the 72kg category for two years.
Her major achievements prior
to this championship include a bronze medal at the 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa
Wrestling Ranking Series in Egypt, and a bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling
Championships 2023 held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Apart from this, Neetika won
a bronze medal in the championship against Canada’s Michaela Rankin with a 5-0
score. Three CU represented India in the championship and won two medals for
the country.
Hailing from Rohtak in
Haryana, Reetika Hooda is a student of BA (final year) at Chandigarh University
under a 100% sports scholarship. She is also a recipient of INR 12,000 monthly
scholarship from the university that takes care of coaching facility and
special diet.