Wrestler enjoys belated bronze medal celebration
Katikati-based wrestler Suraj Singh is celebrating a belated Commonwealth Games bronze medal win following the disqualification of a competitor for an anti-doping violation.
The 23-year-old competed in the Men’s 57kg Freestyle Wrestling at Birmingham 2022. The Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed the disqualification of a higher-placed competitor on Thursday, with Singh’s result upgraded to bronze.
The placing upgrade takes New Zealand’s total medal count from Birmingham to 50, with Singh elated by the news.
“It means a huge amount, I’ve been wrestling since I was a young kid so to get this result is really special. I wish that I got the medal in
Birmingham but I’m pretty pleased to be on the podium in the record books,” he said.
“I told my family straight away, they were so happy about it and really pleased to share this moment with me today.”
Singh was presented with flowers and a New Zealand flag at a celebratory event attended by federation president Dame Louise Martin at the New Zealand Olympic Committee offices yesterday.
The Commonwealth Games Federation is in the process of supplying a new medal to Singh.
New Zealand Olympic Commission chief executive Nicki Nicol congratulated Singh on the upgraded result.
“We’re extremely proud of Suraj and this achievement,” Nicol said.
“He’s a hard worker and deserves this result. It’s a shame he didn’t get to stand on the podium in Birmingham however this result highlights his capability and potential.”
Meanwhile, men’s triathlon silver medallist Hayden Wilde had his appeal dismissed by World Triathlon, meaning his Commonwealth Games silver would not be upgraded to gold.
Wilde had appealed against the 10-second transition penalty he was given for unclipping his helmet before he had racked his bike during the men’s race at the Birmingham Games in July.
The penalty cost the New Zealand No 1 the chance to sprint for the gold medal with British rival Alex Yee, with Wilde having led the race up to that point.
Triathlon NZ and Wilde considered whether a further appeal, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), would be appropriate, but decided not to take the matter further.
The Whakatane 25-year-old will now direct his energy into winning the World Triathlon Championship Series at the season finale which is set to be decided in Abu Dhabi on November 27.
“I’ve got my eyes set on a different goal now, as much as I wanted that gold medal in Birmingham,” he told Radio NZ.
“I’ve got my eyes set on being crowned a world champ.”
Wilde will meet gold medallist Yee again at the world championships.