Indian wrestlers have persistently secured medals in each Olympic Video games since 2008 in Beijing, solidifying wrestling‘s place as a premier Olympic sport within the nation. This success has prolonged to the junior stage as effectively, with the emergence of U23 world champions, elevating expectations for excellent performances in Paris.
Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal in 2008 marked a turning level within the notion of wrestling in India.He surpassed his personal achievement by claiming silver within the 2012 London Video games, the place Yogeshwar Dutt additionally earned a bronze.
Sakshi Malik continued the custom with a bronze in Rio in 2016, and Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia secured a double triumph within the postponed Tokyo Video games (2021).
Regardless of the game’s speedy ascent and anticipation of even higher accomplishments, the wrestling controversy and the protests that adopted harm the game. It left such an influence that just one male and 5 feminine wrestlers are a part of India’s Olympic contingent.
Nationwide camps and home tournaments had been suspended, resulting in uncertainty and confusion. Allegations and counter-arguments ensued. Though WFI elections had been carried out and the nationwide physique confronted suspension, the lifting of the suspension by UWW signaled a return to normalcy.
However with just one male and 5 feminine wrestlers qualifying for the Paris Video games, there’s a mixture of hope and uncertainty surrounding the game’s future prospects.
AMAN SEHRAWAT (Males’s 57kg)
Aman’s constant enchancment led to an astonishing feat: he changed Ravi Dahiya, the Olympic silver medallist and essentially the most formidable Indian wrestler, within the males’s 57kg weight division.
Aman’s major asset is his distinctive stamina and endurance. If the bout lasts six minutes, it will likely be troublesome to beat him.
Nonetheless, his restricted technique and method are areas that want enchancment. This was obvious throughout his match in opposition to Rei Higuchi within the Rating Sequence occasion in Hungary, the place he appeared to lack a backup plan. At this stage of competitors, devising particular methods in opposition to every opponent is essential.
Aman’s most vital challenges come from Rei Higuchi and Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.
VINESH PHOGAT (Ladies’s 50kg)
Vinesh Phogat is undeniably considered one of India’s best feminine wrestlers. Her strong protection and spectacular offensive expertise are her key belongings.
Nonetheless, her lack of great mat-time in opposition to elite opponents over the previous 12 months or so could pose challenges.
Dropping to the 50kg weight class places extra pressure on her physique. The load-cut course of earlier than a match is grueling and drains the physique’s power, which is especially difficult for her as she approaches 30. With a pure physique weight of round 55-56kg, a lot will depend upon how Vinesh manages this modification.
ANTIM PANGHAL (Ladies’s 53kg):
Hisar’s dynamic wrestler was the primary to safe a spot within the Paris Olympics. Throughout the top of the wrestling protests associated to WFI chief, she additionally demanded a trial in opposition to Vinesh.
Her distinctive flexibility is her biggest asset, enabling her to effortlessly escape her opponents’ grasp. Trapping her is a difficult activity. She possesses each spark and fireplace.
Nonetheless, she hasn’t participated in any competitions for the reason that Asian Video games. A again damage prevented her from attending this 12 months’s Asian Championship. The absence of game-time and aggressive expertise may doubtlessly be her downfall.
ANSHU MALIK (Ladies’s 57kg)
Anshu’s journey on the earth of wrestling has been marked by ups and downs since her spectacular performances in junior competitions and her transition to senior occasions. Regardless of the challenges posed by accidents, she stays considered one of India’s prime prospects on the Paris Olympics.
Her strengths are in fast motion and an aggressive strategy.
Her expertise competing on the Olympic stage, though as a youngster in Tokyo the place she could not have been absolutely ready, has supplied her with invaluable insights into the calls for of high-level competitors.
Nonetheless, as she approaches the Olympics, there are issues about her health resulting from a possible shoulder damage. Though Anshu maintains that it’s merely a neck spasm, the dearth of thorough testing leaves some uncertainty surrounding her bodily situation.
NISHA DAHIYA (Ladies’s 68kg)
Rising star Nisha Dahiya has discreetly secured her spot within the Paris Video games, regardless of dealing with setbacks resulting from accidents that hindered her progress. She has bounced again since 2021, catching her expert opponents off guard together with her fierce combating model.
With a wealth of expertise underneath her belt, Dahiya’s fearless strategy is her biggest asset. Nonetheless, her lack of constant publicity to high-level competitions is a disadvantage, alongside together with her tendency to lose momentum within the last minutes of a bout.
A bouth that goes the space typically poses issues for Nisha as a result of she tends to place her the whole lot within the first 4 minutes of her bouts.
Managing her nerves throughout her debut efficiency may also be essential to Nisha’s success.
REETIKA HOODA (Ladies’s 76kg)
Reetika is a formidable competitor within the wrestling circuit, possessing the power to catch her opponents off guard. Whereas not an entire stranger to the wrestling group, her distinctive energy can pose a big problem even to seasoned wrestlers.
Reetika’s arsenal contains each spectacular power and technical prowess. Nonetheless, she tends to provide away factors within the last 30 seconds of her matches.
Regardless of establishing a lead, she typically finds herself dropping these hard-earned factors. This implies that her Achilles’ heel could also be an absence of focus within the closing moments of her bouts.
(With PTI inputs)
Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal in 2008 marked a turning level within the notion of wrestling in India.He surpassed his personal achievement by claiming silver within the 2012 London Video games, the place Yogeshwar Dutt additionally earned a bronze.
Sakshi Malik continued the custom with a bronze in Rio in 2016, and Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia secured a double triumph within the postponed Tokyo Video games (2021).
Regardless of the game’s speedy ascent and anticipation of even higher accomplishments, the wrestling controversy and the protests that adopted harm the game. It left such an influence that just one male and 5 feminine wrestlers are a part of India’s Olympic contingent.
Nationwide camps and home tournaments had been suspended, resulting in uncertainty and confusion. Allegations and counter-arguments ensued. Though WFI elections had been carried out and the nationwide physique confronted suspension, the lifting of the suspension by UWW signaled a return to normalcy.
However with just one male and 5 feminine wrestlers qualifying for the Paris Video games, there’s a mixture of hope and uncertainty surrounding the game’s future prospects.
AMAN SEHRAWAT (Males’s 57kg)
Aman’s constant enchancment led to an astonishing feat: he changed Ravi Dahiya, the Olympic silver medallist and essentially the most formidable Indian wrestler, within the males’s 57kg weight division.
Aman’s major asset is his distinctive stamina and endurance. If the bout lasts six minutes, it will likely be troublesome to beat him.
Nonetheless, his restricted technique and method are areas that want enchancment. This was obvious throughout his match in opposition to Rei Higuchi within the Rating Sequence occasion in Hungary, the place he appeared to lack a backup plan. At this stage of competitors, devising particular methods in opposition to every opponent is essential.
Aman’s most vital challenges come from Rei Higuchi and Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.
VINESH PHOGAT (Ladies’s 50kg)
Vinesh Phogat is undeniably considered one of India’s best feminine wrestlers. Her strong protection and spectacular offensive expertise are her key belongings.
Nonetheless, her lack of great mat-time in opposition to elite opponents over the previous 12 months or so could pose challenges.
Dropping to the 50kg weight class places extra pressure on her physique. The load-cut course of earlier than a match is grueling and drains the physique’s power, which is especially difficult for her as she approaches 30. With a pure physique weight of round 55-56kg, a lot will depend upon how Vinesh manages this modification.
ANTIM PANGHAL (Ladies’s 53kg):
Hisar’s dynamic wrestler was the primary to safe a spot within the Paris Olympics. Throughout the top of the wrestling protests associated to WFI chief, she additionally demanded a trial in opposition to Vinesh.
Her distinctive flexibility is her biggest asset, enabling her to effortlessly escape her opponents’ grasp. Trapping her is a difficult activity. She possesses each spark and fireplace.
Nonetheless, she hasn’t participated in any competitions for the reason that Asian Video games. A again damage prevented her from attending this 12 months’s Asian Championship. The absence of game-time and aggressive expertise may doubtlessly be her downfall.
ANSHU MALIK (Ladies’s 57kg)
Anshu’s journey on the earth of wrestling has been marked by ups and downs since her spectacular performances in junior competitions and her transition to senior occasions. Regardless of the challenges posed by accidents, she stays considered one of India’s prime prospects on the Paris Olympics.
Her strengths are in fast motion and an aggressive strategy.
Her expertise competing on the Olympic stage, though as a youngster in Tokyo the place she could not have been absolutely ready, has supplied her with invaluable insights into the calls for of high-level competitors.
Nonetheless, as she approaches the Olympics, there are issues about her health resulting from a possible shoulder damage. Though Anshu maintains that it’s merely a neck spasm, the dearth of thorough testing leaves some uncertainty surrounding her bodily situation.
NISHA DAHIYA (Ladies’s 68kg)
Rising star Nisha Dahiya has discreetly secured her spot within the Paris Video games, regardless of dealing with setbacks resulting from accidents that hindered her progress. She has bounced again since 2021, catching her expert opponents off guard together with her fierce combating model.
With a wealth of expertise underneath her belt, Dahiya’s fearless strategy is her biggest asset. Nonetheless, her lack of constant publicity to high-level competitions is a disadvantage, alongside together with her tendency to lose momentum within the last minutes of a bout.
A bouth that goes the space typically poses issues for Nisha as a result of she tends to place her the whole lot within the first 4 minutes of her bouts.
Managing her nerves throughout her debut efficiency may also be essential to Nisha’s success.
REETIKA HOODA (Ladies’s 76kg)
Reetika is a formidable competitor within the wrestling circuit, possessing the power to catch her opponents off guard. Whereas not an entire stranger to the wrestling group, her distinctive energy can pose a big problem even to seasoned wrestlers.
Reetika’s arsenal contains each spectacular power and technical prowess. Nonetheless, she tends to provide away factors within the last 30 seconds of her matches.
Regardless of establishing a lead, she typically finds herself dropping these hard-earned factors. This implies that her Achilles’ heel could also be an absence of focus within the closing moments of her bouts.
(With PTI inputs)
