Amongst a typically large number of podium finishes by Abbotsford wrestlers at the recent national championship tournaments, Jasmit Phulka’s performance stood out.
The Rick Hansen Secondary grad won his second straight junior national crown in Fredricton, N.B., finishing atop the 84 kilogram weight class. That he did so with a broken rib is a testament to his pain tolerance.
“I broke my rib in my first match,” he explained, “but I had to fight through it. When I was breathing, it felt like my lungs were on fire.”
Phulka plans to return to the practice mat after a couple weeks off to recover, and he’s ticketed for the world junior championships in Bulgaria in August.
“I sprained my MCL at junior worlds last year, but I was a match away from the semifinals,” he said. “I want to medal there this year.”
Fellow Abbotsford native Sunny Dhinsa also turned in a terrific performance in Fredricton – he won the junior heavyweight (120 kg) title, and added a silver in the senior national event.
Though Dhinsa qualified for junior worlds, was dissatisfied with the runner-up finish in the senior division. He was ranked No. 1, but fell to Korey Jarvis of Guelph, Ont.
“I wasn’t happy about that,” he said. “It’s a guy I know I can beat, but it’s just what happened at that tournament.”
Dhinsa finished fifth at junior worlds in 2012, and he’s aiming for the podium this time around.
“Last year I came in fifth, and this year I for sure want to medal, and hopefully gold,” he said.
Local grapplers also shone at the cadet and juvenile nationals in Saskatoon last weekend.
Navdeep Toor won gold in the cadet 42 kg division, while Nishan Randhawa took the cadet 85 kg title.
In the juvenile divisions, Matt Dignan won the 54 kg Greco-Roman title, while Dave Sharma was a double medallist, taking silver in the 50 kg freestyle and bronze in Greco-Roman. Other podium finishers included Justin Gill (bronze, 69 kg freestyle) and Rajin Gill (bronze, 100 kg freestyle).