Let me get some things straight. I started writing this article with a lot of hope. Then came the news of Sujeet and Deepak being stranded in Dubai and unable to reach the venue for the weigh-in. Jaideep’s performance was heart-warming. After Aman’s loss, I felt like ‘what is the point of all this?’.
But wrestling and sport, like life, has to go on.
And so, we go again with renewed hope that the women will bring better news and some quotas to go.
Women’s 50 kg:
Last year, we had Neelam Sirohi at the world championships and she didn’t do too badly losing to an eventual bronze medallist. Then we have had Shivani Pawar (someone not from Haryana, for a change). Last week at the Asian championships, she beat the silver medallist from last year’s Worlds. But to everyone’s surprise, Vinesh entered the trials at 50 Kg and beat Shivani 11-6 in a closely fought fight.
In Asia (and the world), at 50 kg, there is Yui Susaki, then daylight, then China’s Feng Ziki, then daylight, then a bunch of contenders including Vinesh. There are questions as to whether she deserves a place in these qualifiers but she won fair and square. She beat the best Indian wrestler in this category. Period.
Vinesh has gotten a fairly easy draw, where she’ll have to face wrestlers from Korea, then Cambodia, then one of Kazakhstan or Philippines. None of them can even come close to her pedigree. It’s her quota to lose.
Women’s 57 kg:
Anshu definitely has a tougher draw. First of all, she has done well to beat her national level, Sarita Mor. She is training in Japan off late and claims to be learning their “techniques”. She faces an experienced Kyrgyz wrestler in her first round and with the local support, it is going to be very challenging.
If she gets through that, she will mostly face Sobirova of Uzbekistan. If she is in her best shape, quota shouldn’t be a problem.
Women’s 62 kg:
Aisuluu Tynbekova will be remembered by fans for being at the wrong end of India’s first medal in women’s wrestling- Sakshi Malik in 2016. Since then, she has levelled up, winner silver in Tokyo and is the current world champion. For India, Sonam and Manisha have been competing at this weight with limited success at the senior level. At Bishkek, Mansi, who used to compete in 57 kg earlier, will be looking to add to our Paris contingent.
Mun Hyon-gyong from DPR Korea, who beat Nonoka Ozaki at the Asian games is in her half of the draw. Her first-round opponent, Irina Kuznetsova, will not be easy either.
Women’s 68 kg:
This category along with 76 kg will have the Nelson style; 7 wrestlers- divided into a group of 2 and 4. Round robin format- top 2 in each group will go to the semis. so, Nisha and Reetika will have to face atleast 3 wrestlers each. Yelena Shalygina is challenging, but a winnable matchup.
Zhumanazarova is a bronze medallist from Tokyo and former world champion. Sol Gum Pak is an unknown entity but you must know by now that north Koreans are very dangerous.
Women’s 76 kg:
World U23 champion Reetika’s group is also tough- China’s Juan Wang has a lot of pedigree. Mongolian Davaanasan is the World’s silver medallist from Belgrade in 72 kg.
If she somehow goes through, she might have to have the Asiad silver medallist, Bakbergenova of Kazakhstan.
Written By Sundaram
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