File photo of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (right). (PTI Photo)
The four women wrestlers who have won Olympic quotas for India so far will have to go through one last hurdle before they can confirm their seats on the Paris-bound flight. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh said there will be a selection trial in June. The winners in each category will represent the country at the Paris Games, which begin on July 26.
So far, Antim Panghal (53 kg), Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Anshu Malik (57 kg) and Reetika Hooda (76 kg) have won quota places for India. None of the male wrestlers, either in freestyle or Greco-Roman events, have managed to earn Olympic berths so far.
Singh said the trials will be held to judge the ‘current form’ of the wrestlers as they won’t go only by reputation. “The selection committee has recommended that trials should be held. There will be four wrestlers in each category. The trials will be held as per our policy wherein each wrestler will face each other rather than the quota-winner meeting the challenger directly in the final,” Singh said.
The dates and final format, he added, will be confirmed after the final Olympic qualification tournament concludes in Istanbul on May 12. That event will be the final chance for India’s male wrestlers to win a quota.
While the level of competition is expected to be higher at the World qualifiers compared to the recent Asian event, the additional quota place available will improve the chances for wrestlers to clinch a berth.
The United World Wrestling (UWW) said ‘every weight category offers three Paris Olympic spots — one each to the two finalists and one to the winner of the playoff between the two bronze medallists.’
Indian squad:
Freestyle: Aman (57kg), Sujeet (65kg), Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak (97kg), Sumit (125kg);
Greco-Roman: Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Naveen (130kg); Women’s wrestling: Mansi (62kg), Nisha (68kg)
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