One more Medal to India Beijing Olympics 2008

Wrestler Sushil Kumar wins 2nd medal for India, a bronze

Grappler Sushil Kumar provided an unexpected boost to India's Olympic campaign by clinching bronze medal after beating Kazakhstan's Leonid Spiridonov in the repechage match of the men's freestyle wrestling 66kg class in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar on Wednesday brought further international glory to India by winning the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics after 56 years.

He won the medal in the men's 66 kilograms freestyle category, defeating Leonid Speiridonov of Kazakhistan.

Khashaba Jadhav of Karad, Maharashtra, was the last Indian wrestler to win an individual bronze in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.

Though Sushil Kumar went down in the opening round against a dominant Ukrainian Andriy Stadnik, he won the bronze medal on technical points.

Khashaba Jadhav of Karad, Maharashtra, was the last Indian wrestler to win an individual bronze in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.

Earlier, Sushil Kumar was pegged down 3-8 on technical points.

In recognition of his achievement, the Railways announced an award of Rs.55 lakh plus a promotion. The Government of Delhi, the city from where Kumar hails, announced an award of Rs.50 lakh. The Central Government announced an award of Rs.25 lakh, while the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs announced a reward amount of Rs.20 lakh. The Government of Haryana announced an award of Rs.25 lakh.

This is India's second medal in the on going Olympics after shooter Abhinav Bindra's individual Gold medal in a 10 metre rifle shoot.