Virender Singh wins gold at Deaflympics

From: Rediff, India - Jan 14, 2005

Indian grappler Virender Singh won the country's first gold medal in the 20th Deaflympics, being held in Melbourne, when he defeated defending champion Mustafa Dede of Turkey in the final of the 84 kg freestyle category.

Virender scored a 3-0 victory to take India's medal tally to one gold, one silver and two bronze till Thursday.

The Indian grappler had earlier defeated the last edition's silver medallist Andrei Zakhryapin of Russia 4-1 on points to book his place in the summit clash.

The other Indian wrestler, Radhakrishna Chaturvedi, competing in the 120 kg freestyle category, however, could not make it to the knock-out stage.

India have won one silver and one bronze in athletics while the other bronze was won in the badminton team event.

Gerald Wilcox won the silver in the men's pole vault, clearing a height of 4.20 metres, while Babloo Katana cleared 35.43 metres to take the bronze in the men's hammer throw.

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