India's Manisha Bhanwala stormed into the final of the women's 59kg freestyle event at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, defeating home favourite Altyn Shagayeva by fall in the semifinal, PTI reported. The win assures Bhanwala of at least a silver medal.

Source: PTI via Dailyworld

On her way to the last four, Bhanwala beat Canada's Laurence Beauregard 6-2 and defeated Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu 6-0, using two stepouts and two takedowns against the Mongolian, according to IANS reporting from Astana.

Source: IANS via Hi India

Gold-medal bout against Nette on October 30

In the final at the Barys Arena, Bhanwala will face Abigail Nette of the United States, who edged Russia's Svetlana Lipatova 7-6 in a semifinal with four lead changes, United World Wrestling's live coverage reported. The championship bracket records Bhanwala's semifinal win over Shagayeva as a 10-0 victory by fall.

Source: United World Wrestling

Elsewhere in the Indian camp on Thursday, Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal lost his men's 65kg quarterfinal 3-3 on criteria to Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, and Vicky Hooda went out in the 97kg quarterfinal against Japan's Arash Yoshida. Both Indians can still return through the repechage route if the wrestlers who beat them reach their finals, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via Hi India

Bhanwala's run is the standout Indian result of the day in Astana. A win in the final would give her the world title in the 59kg class; a defeat would still leave her with a world championship silver medal.