Manisha Bhanwala scripted history as she rallied to beat USA’s Pan-American champion Abigail Elizabeth Nette 8-6 in the 59kg final and became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World wrestling championships in Astana on Friday.

The 29-year-old Manisha is the second Indian after Sushil Kumar to win a Worlds title. Sushil had become the World champion in 66kg freestyle in Moscow in 2010.

Manisha overcame her disappointing performance in the 57kg weight class at the Asian Games in Japan to give a dominating performance in the non-Olympic category.

The Haryana wrestler, who defeated three strong opponents on Thursday to make it to the final, displayed her steely resolve and tactical brilliance to fight back from 0-6 down to stun World No.10 Abigail 8-6.

After winning the Asian title in 62kg, Manisha took a bold call to switch to the competitive 57kg last year.

“I competed in 62kg for four years and gave good performances. I feel I could not make it to the Olympics because of my height (five feet two inches) as I was not able to take proper positions,” Manisha had told The Hindu after winning the 57kg National title last year.

Her historic performance in Astana should boost Manisha’s ambition to shine at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Besides Manisha’s gold, Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak’s silver in 50kg and 76kg respectively and Tanu Sharma bronze in 72kg helped Indian women record their best-ever showing in the Worlds. Overall, India finished fourth in the women’s section.

In men’s freestyle, Vicky (97kg) was beaten 10-0 by Iranian superstar Hassan Yazdani in the repechage round.

Three others, Nikhil (61kg), Pushpender Dalal (86kg) and Jaspooran Singh (125kg), moved into repechage rounds.