India's Vinesh Phogat won the women's 53 kg bronze medal at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships here on Wednesday.

Three-time CWG gold medalist Vinesh defeated defending European champion Emma Malmgren of Sweden 8-0 in the bronze medal match. The Indian wrestler defeated former silver medalist Zhuldyz Eshimova of Kazakhstan in the first round. Azerbaijan's Leyla Gurbanova withdrew due to injury in the second round of the replay, leading the Indians into the medal fight.

This is Vinesh's second bronze medal at the world championships after his podium finish at the 2019 edition in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. His win was also India's first medal in the 2022 edition. India's under-23 bronze medalist Nisha Dahiya will challenge for the bronze medal on Thursday after a 4-5 win over world under-20 champion Ami Ishii of Japan in the semi-68kg category.

Nisha had defeated Lithuania's Danute Domikaityte, Czech Adela Hanzlickova and Bulgarian Sofiya Georgieva - three European bronze medalists - in previous rounds before Ami Ishii won. Meanwhile, the 2021 World bronze medalist Sarita Mor could not repeat her achievements this season as she lost 0-7 in the fall of the U23 World Champion Anhelina Lysak of Poland in the round of 16 in the 57 category kg.

She beat CWG bronze medalist Hannah Taylor of Canada 4-2 in the qualifying round. Asian junior champions Mansi Ahlawat and Reetika also appeared early. Reetika was beaten 2-6 by European bronze medalist Kendra Dacher of France in the 72kg qualifying round. Mansi Ahlawat beat European junior champion Solomiia Vynnyk of Ukraine 8-5 in the qualifying match before losing 3-5 to Poland's Jowita Maria Wrzesien in the fourth round.

2022 CWG gold medalist Naveen Malik will be seen in action on Thursday as the men's freestyle competition begins.