BIRMINGHAM: National wrestler Inam Butt outclassed his Australian opponent Jayden Lawrence to storm into the semi-finals of Men’s Freestyle Wrestling in the 86kg category on Friday.
Inam, who had a flying start to his Commonwealth Games campaign as he thrashed his Scottish opponent Kieran Malone 11-0 in the Round of 16, further carried on his scintillating run as he downed Australia’s Lawrence in the quarter-final.
In a rather competitive quarter-final clash, Inam edged past Lawrence 8-3 to move one victory within bagging a medal for the nation.
The flag-bearer for Pakistan in this year’s games, Inam will now lock horns with South African wrestler Edward Lessing in a bid to confirm a silver in the competition.
Besides Inam, another national Wrestler Zaman Anwar shone in his semi-final encounter against England’s Mandhir Kooner as he defeated the latter 5-0 to confirm at least a silver medal for the country.
Young wrestler Inayatullah, however, suffered a frustrating defeat at the hands of Canadian wrestler Lachlan McNeil, who ran away with the victory with the scores of 11-0.
The 20-year-old wrestler, however, will compete for the Bronze with England’s George Ramm, who lost to India’s Bajrang Punia in the first semi-final.
READ: Pakistan’s Inayatullah, Inam star in CWG Wrestling events