The last time an Indian Greco-Roman wrestler competed in the Olympics was in 2016, when Ravinder Khatri and Hardeep Singh competed in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
Greco-Roman wrestling has not been India’s strength and it was on display once on Sunday during the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) as no Indian wrestler could secure a berth for the Olympic Games. Paris. The last time an Indian Greco-Roman wrestler competed in the Olympics was in 2016, when Ravinder Khatri and Hardeep Singh competed in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
On Sunday, Sunil, competing in the 87kg category, was the only Indian who managed to win a bout while others were eliminated after losing their first round.
Sunil beat his Japanese rival Soh Sakabe 5-1. The Indian got the opportunity from the ‘Par Terre’ position and scored four points with two heartbreaking moves.
In his quarter-final against Uzbekistan’s Jalgasbay Berdimuratov, the Indian brilliantly saved himself after being lifted by his rival from the ground and even led the fight for a while.
On two occasions his awarded points were taken away after the Uzbek side successfully challenged the referee’s decisions. Ultimately, Sunil lost 2-4 and bowed out of the qualification race.
Ashu’s challenge in the 67kg category lasted less than two minutes. He lost his qualifying fight against Uzbekistan’s Abror Atabaev by technical superiority.
The Uzbek held the Indian firmly just above the waist and pushed him down for a takedown move, and from there it was one-way traffic with Atabaev employing consecutive moves hose wrench to win.
Sumit (60 kg), Vikas (77 kg), Nitesh (97 kg) and Naveen (130 kg) also fell in the first round.
So far, India has secured four quotas for the Paris Games, all won by women wrestlers.
There remains one last chance to win quotas during the world qualifiers, scheduled in Turkey from May 9.
With PTI inputs
