Tokyo Games: Indian wrestlers Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik qualify for Olympics

India’s young wrestlers Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik gave impressive performances in the Asian Olympic qualifiers on Saturday to qualify for the Tokyo Games. Anshu, 19, and Sonam, 18, making a steady transition from junior to senior circuit, joined senior pro Vinesh Phogat (53 kg) to make the cut in the Olympics. There are now three women wrestlers in India, who will now fight for the pride in the Summer Games. Vinesh had qualified through the 2019 World Championship. In total, India now has seven wrestlers who have qualified for the upcoming games.

Among men, Bajrang Punia (65 kg), Ravi Dahiya (57 kg) and Deepak Punia (86 kg) have qualified in the men’s freestyle event. While Anshu was a staple in the 57kg competition, Sonam’s resilience eventually helped her secure a quota and closed the door on Rio Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik.

Sonam announced her arrival by beating Sakshi three times recently, making the 62kg category her own.

Anshu’s dominance was such that he scored only two points to reach the finals and won all three of his bouts with technical superiority. He started beating Korean Jeun Um, then edged out Kazakh wrestler Emma Tisina and defeated Shokhida Akhmeva of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.

Sonam beat Jia Long of China 5-2 before winning by technical superiority against Hsien Ping Pai of Taipei. In the semi-finals, she trailed 0–6 against Ayulim Kasimova of Kazakhstan, but scored nine consecutive points to secure herself a quota.

Sonam’s personal coach Ajmer Malik said, “He has shown that he is ready for the senior circuit. Look what he has done. People had said that he is still at the level of cadet but successive wins against Sakshi showed his confidence.” Is enhanced. “

Promoted

Ajmer, who runs Netaji Subash Chander Sports Institute in village Medina in Sonipat district, said, “She does not lose confidence even after winning.

Seema Bisla lost all three of her bouts to be eliminated from the race in the 50kg, while Nisha came close to securing a quota in the 68kg, but lost 3–1 to defeat the semi-finals against Kyrgyzstan’s Meera Jhumanzarova. Did it. Mirim drove the Indian out with his ‘fitley’ (leg lace) attack.