Praveen Kumar made history as he became the first Indian man to win a gold medal at the Wushu World Champion held at Sanghai. Wushu Sanda is a martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close range punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps and kick catches. Praveen Kumar is the second Indian to win gold at World Championship. In 2017, Pooja Kadian became the first Indian to be crowned world champion in Wushu after she defeated Evgeniya Stepanova of Russia in the Women’s 75 kg Sanda event.
Praveen Kumar defeated Philippines’ Russel Diaz in the 48kg category by 2-1 in the Men’s Sanda event. He had earlier defeated Uzbekistan’s Khasan Ikromov 2-0 in the semifinal on Tuesday to set up the summit clash with Diaz.
Kumar is the national champion and the 2016 Asian Wushu Championship silver medalist. This was his first appearance at the World Championship. India currently stands 10th in the Medal’s table with 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze. Arjuna Awardee and three-time world silver medalist Yumnam Sanathoi Devi won silver in Women’s Sanda 52kg. Earlier Poonam won silver in Women’s Sanda 75kg and Vikrant Baliyan won bronze in Men’s Sanda 60kg.
