Arjun Gill has won gold in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 22-year-old Surrey resident defeated Satywart Kadian of India in the final of the 97 kg. class this morning (Wednesday).
"I've never been so happy," Gill told The Leader after the gold medal match. "I didn't know I was winning until near the end, and my coach was telling me to stay in the middle (of the mat) and not do anything."
After winning his quarterfinal and semifinal matches by technical superiority (gaining a 10-point lead to end the match), Gill trailed Kadian on points 4-2 late in the gold medal contest. He scored twice in the final minute to tie the score, which meant technical points (takedowns and holds) would decide the match. Gill held a 3-1 edge, and was declared the winner.
"He was coming on hard the last 15-20 seconds," said Gill of his opponent, who had defeated the Surrey wrestler 5-1 at an international tournament in Italy in May.
Gill returns to Surrey Monday and until then he said he will "just hang out, watch some other events" in Glasgow.
"I'll take a couple of days off and celebrate a little," he said. "Then I'll get back to training. I have the World championships in September."
- Christabel Nettey has qualified for the final of the women's long jump at the Commonwealth Games. The Johnston Heights Secondary graduate had a best jump of 6.47m to place fifth. A dozen athletes qualified for the final, which will take place tomorrow (Thursday).
Bianca Stuart of the Bahamas had the best qualifying jump at 6.67m. Nettey, a bronze medalist at the 2013 Francophone Games, has a personal best of 6.57m.