India, Oct. 30 -- Manisha Bhanwala scripted history at the Wrestling World Championships on Friday, becoming the first Indian woman to win a world title after defeating USA's Abigail Nette 8-6 in the women's 59kg final in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 29-year-old from Rohtak, Haryana, ended India's 39-year wait for a women's World Championships gold and became only the second Indian wrestler overall to achieve the feat after Sushil Kumar in 2010. Her triumph also capped a remarkable campaign for the Indian women's team, with Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) having secured silver medals after reaching the finals earlier in the competition.

The final was a dramatic comeback for Manisha, who found herself trailing 1-6 after the openi...