Sakshi, Bajrang eye medals

Paris, August 20

Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik and Asian champion Bajrang Punia will spearhead the Indian challenge at the World Wrestling Championships starting here tomorrow. Sakshi, who bagged the silver medal in the 60kg category at the Asian Championship in May, would be hoping to do one better when she steps on the mat on Thursday. Vinesh Phogat, another silver medallist at the Asian Championship, will also fancy her chances in 48kg.

Although Vinesh had won the Asian Championship silver in 55kg after making a comeback from an injury she had suffered during the Rio Olympics, the 22-year-old is back in her preferred 48kg category. In the men’s freestyle section, Punia, bronze medallist of the 2013 Budapest edition, would be eyeing gold this time. Punia is high on confidence after finishing on top of the podium at the Asian Championship. Punia, who had bagged a bronze in 60kg in Budapest, has now climbed up a division to 65kg. — PTI