Joy for Ravi, sorrow for Vinesh

Chiba (Japan), August 5

Ravi Dahiya today became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games but Vinesh Phogat’s redemption dream came crashing down after a shock quarterfinals exit and Deepak Punia let slip a bronze in the last 10 seconds of his playoff bout.

There were huge expectations from Dahiya for a gold but the reigning world champion Zavur Uguev of ROC dashed those hopes with a comfortable 7-4 win the men’s freestyle 57kg title clash.

Heartburn for Vinesh, Punia

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh was left to endure a second consecutive heartbreaking quarterfinals exit after a massive upset at the hands of Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya.

Vinesh had no answer to the supreme defence of Vanesa, who got her revenge at the biggest stage after suffering a similar embarrassing defeat ‘by fall’ earlier this year. Later, Vanesa lost her semis to China’s Qinyu Pang on criteria after scores were tied 2-2, a result that drew curtains on Vinesh’s campaign.

In the men’s freestyle 86kg category, Deepak Punia came agonisingly close to winning a bronze on his debut but conceded a takedown in last 10 seconds of the playoff against San Marino’s Myles Nazem Amine.

Young Anshu Malik also bowed out of the 57kg competition after losing her repechage round 5-1 to Russia’s Valeria Koblova. — PTI