New Delhi:
Indian world champion Sushil Kumar delighted an expectant home crowd with a gold in the Commonwealth Games freestyle wrestling 66kg on Sunday.
India's latest posterboy, one of the nation's best medal hopes after winning the world championships in Moscow last month, treated his fans to an emphatic victory over South African Heinrich Barnes in the final.
"You have no idea with all the expectations riding on me and competing in my home country and winning gold -- it is the best feeling I ever had," he said.
"This gold is the result of my audience's love and my own determination."
Kumar pinned Barnes to the mat in the second session to close out the final 7-0 as the Indira Gandhi arena rose to its feet to chant his name.
The victory capped a formidable day's wrestling for Kumar during which he managed not to concede a single point, breezing through his first two matches before winning his semifinal in just nine seconds with the first move of the match.
India are the first nation to win 10 gold medals in wrestling at a single Games while Barnes' silver was the 10th for South Africa across all sports.
"It feels good," he said. "I'd be happier with a gold but it's all right. I worked hard for it and it might be a good motivation for next time.
Canada's Chris Prickett won the bronze.
India's latest posterboy, one of the nation's best medal hopes after winning the world championships in Moscow last month, treated his fans to an emphatic victory over South African Heinrich Barnes in the final.
"You have no idea with all the expectations riding on me and competing in my home country and winning gold -- it is the best feeling I ever had," he said.
"This gold is the result of my audience's love and my own determination."
Kumar pinned Barnes to the mat in the second session to close out the final 7-0 as the Indira Gandhi arena rose to its feet to chant his name.
The victory capped a formidable day's wrestling for Kumar during which he managed not to concede a single point, breezing through his first two matches before winning his semifinal in just nine seconds with the first move of the match.
India are the first nation to win 10 gold medals in wrestling at a single Games while Barnes' silver was the 10th for South Africa across all sports.
"It feels good," he said. "I'd be happier with a gold but it's all right. I worked hard for it and it might be a good motivation for next time.
Canada's Chris Prickett won the bronze.
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