All eyes will be on the performance of two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat as Indian wrestlers challenge for a quota for the Paris Games in the Asia Olympic qualifiers starting from Friday.
Deepak Punia (86 kg) and Sujit Kalkal (74 kg) got stuck at the Dubai airport, but India’s hopes suffered a major setback. Apart from these two, 15 wrestlers from the country have reached Bishkek.
A total of 36 quota places will be up for grabs in the freestyle, women’s and Greco-Roman competitions. Indian wrestlers will try to get quota in all weight categories except one event.
The heaviest rains in the Gulf nation so far have flooded major highways and roads in Dubai and one of the world’s busiest airports. The duo, along with Russian coach Kamal Malikov and physio Shubham Gupta, had to sleep on the floor and were not even getting proper food due to the crisis created by the rain.
Nineteen-year-old Panghal has already secured a quota place for India in the women’s 53 kg category after winning a bronze medal at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
In the women’s category, it is now time for Vinesh (50 kg), Ritika Hooda (76 kg), current U-23 world champion Anshu (57 kg), Mansi (62 kg) and Nisha (68 kg) to do their best. Vinesh Phogat, however, has breathed a sigh of relief after getting approval from her coach and physio. She will now be eager to put these controversies behind her and perform well.
In the men’s freestyle event, Aman Sehrawat (57kg) made headlines as he edged Tokyo Olympic medalist Ravi Dahiya to the National Trials. He is also in good form. He won the gold medal in the Zagreb Open in January this year. Along with Deepak Punia and Sujith, Jaideep (74kg), Deepak (97kg) and Sumit (125kg) will also leave no stone unturned to win the quota for India by showing their best.
In Greco-Roman, Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg) and Naveen (130kg) will be responsible for achieving the quota for the country.
