RHOOSE wrestler Iwan Baker returned from the 2016 Commonwealth Senior Wrestling Tournament, held in Singapore, with a bronze medal.

This was Baker’s first tournament organised directly by the sport’s world governing body and his first competing outside Europe.

Arriving in Singapore on Thursday, November 3, the team had two days to fine tune technique and acclimatise to the time and temperature difference before the opening ceremony on Saturday, November 5. After the weigh-in and medicals Baker was able to relax and get used to the competition atmosphere as his 61kg weight did not compete until the Sunday.

Drawn in the top half of the draw Baker found himself pitted against the Indian number one and favourite for the competition, Harphool. Defeat in this bout proved to be a temporary setback as he fought back with two victories in the repechage section to earn a semi-final fight against the winner of the bottom half of the draw.

This turned out to be another Indian athlete, Vikas, and his opponents experience proved too much and defeat at this stage left Baker with a joint third spot and a bronze medal.

The event was dominated by India who took a huge delegation of 60 athletes, officials and support staff but Wales did gain another bronze in the 65kg division thorough Cardiff-based Kane Charig.

After months of hard work and dedication to diet and training the bronze medal is well deserved.

Full results from the Freestyle Seniors 61kg were:

First Harphool (IND)

Second Vikas (IND)

Third Iwan Baker (WLS)

Third Abdul Wahab (PAK)

Fifth Firdhaus Ng (SGP)

Fifth Fernando Lim (SGP)