A triple-gold performance from Sunny Dhinsa highlighted a terrific weekend for local wrestlers at the national junior/senior championships in St. Catharines, Ont.
Dhinsa, an 18-year-old Canadian Olympic hopeful, finished atop the standings in three individual categories in the heavyweight (120 kg) class. He won the senior freestyle and Greco-Roman events, along with the junior freestyle.
In the senior freestyle final, the W.J. Mouat grad beat a fellow Abbotsford native – Rick Hansen Secondary product Gurjot Kooner.
This weekend, Dhinsa competes at the Pan American Olympic qualifying tournament in Orlando, Fla. in the Greco-Roman competition. If he finishes in the top two in his weight class, he punches his ticket to the London Olympics.
Two other local athletes won gold in the junior age class at nationals. Ashley Topnik won the women’s 59 kg freestyle, while Jasmit Phulka triumphed in the 84 kg men’s freestyle.
Other Abbotsford freestyle medallists included Nikkie Brar (bronze, junior women’s 51 kg) and Harry Purewal (bronze, senior men’s 74 kg). Chanmit Phulka placed sixth in senior men’s 96 kg.