Vinesh, Sakshi hop aboard the last bus to Rio Olympics

Karam Prakash

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Chandigarh, May 7

After a series of bad news for Indian wrestling over the last few weeks, Vinesh Phogat (48kg) and Sakshi Malik (58kg) brought the smiles back when they booked two berths for India for the Rio Olympics.

Vinesh and Sakshi reached the finals of their respective weight categories to ensure quota places for India in those categories.

Later, Vinesh won the gold medal by defeating Iwona Nina of Poland 6-0 technical points (TP). However, Sakshi lost 7-3 to K Valeria of Russia. 

Thus, for the first time ever, two Indian female wrestlers will see action at an Olympic Games — in 2012, Vinesh’s cousin Geeta had become the first female wrestler from India to qualify for the Olympics. This was the last qualification tournament for the Rio Games, and only the top two finishers in each category earned an Olympics quota for their country. 

Turnaround

Vinesh, who had been disqualified from the previous qualifying tournament in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), was under pressure to perform today. 

En route the final, Vinesh crushed Nataliya Pulkouska of Ukraine by 10-0 Technical Point (TP) in the qualification round. Her confidence up, Vinesh thrashed Julie, of France by Technical Fall (11-0 TP). In her quarterfinal match, Korean wrestler Lee was no match for Vinesh, who again won by Technical Fall (11-0 TP).

In the semifinal against Evin Demiirhan of Turkey, it was more a battle of the mind as the two wrestlers were exhausted as it was the fourth bout in two hours for them. Vinesh’s opponent, competing on her home turf, had a massive home crowd support. But the Indian kept her nerve and remained focussed on the job at hand, again winning by Technical Fall (11-2 TP). 

“I hope that she makes up for the absence of Geeta and Babita. We will ensure that she works extra hard to prepare for the Olympics,” Mahavir Singh, uncle and mentor of Vinesh, said. 

Sakshi’s surprise

Sakshi, an underdog, sprung a surprise by earning a quota place. In the first round, Sakshi defeated Irene Garcia of Spain by 10-0 TP. In the quarterfinals, she outplayed Kateryna of Romania, again by Technical Fall (12-2 TP),  to enter the qualification bout.

In the qualification bout, one of best bouts of the day, Sakshi won by a wafer-thin margin against Lang Zhang of China. After the end of the bout, the score was tied at 10-10 but Malik was declared the winner on the big score technique method.

It may be noted that Sakshi had defeated Geeta Phogat in the national trials in March. However, Sakshi had failed to impress in the second qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan and Geeta was given a chance in the third qualifying tournament in Ulaanbaatar, where she lost in the first round.

Sakshi, who comes from village Mokhra in Rohtak district, started wrestling at an early age at the Chotu Ram Stadium (Rohtak), under the guidance of coach Ishwar Singh Dahiya. 

“It has always been my dream to see my student participate in the Olympics and Sakshi has made me feel proud,” Dahiya said.