Wrestling at Tokyo

Number of Gold medals: 18

Event dates: August 1 to 7

Indian angle

Seven Indian wrestlers will be in action in Tokyo — Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) in men’s freestyle, and Seema Bisla (50kg), Vinesh Phogat (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Sonam Malik (62kg) in women’s freestyle. In the Greco-Roman category — open only to men — no Indian has made the cut for Tokyo. In 2016 Rio Olympics, India had 2 wrestlers each in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, and three in women’s freestyle. Among them, Sakshi Malik had won one of India’s 2 medals from the whole Olympics.

Schedule

Wrestlers will have bouts up to semifinals on Day 1, repechage and final on Day 2.

Ravi Dahiya: Aug 4-5

Bajrang Punia: Aug 6-7

Deepak Punia: Aug 4-5

Seema Bisla: Aug 6-7

Vinesh Phogat: Aug 5-6

Anshu Malik: Aug 4-5

Sonam Malik: Aug 3-4

Format

Wrestling events have two styles. Greco-Roman wrestlers use only their upper bodies and arms. Freestyle wrestlers can use any part of their body to pin or throw their opponent

Bouts can last for a maximum of three periods of two minutes, with a 30-second break in between periods.

Excepting byes or walkovers, each wrestler must win four bouts to win gold. Beaten wrestlers are eliminated.

Wrestlers who lost to finalists are entered into the repechage round to fight for bronze.

Favourites

Russia, Iran and USA are top nations in men’s freestyle, while Cuba is expected to be the top nation in Greco-Roman category. Japan is the most top nation in women’s freestyle, having won 11 out of 18 gold available in four Olympic Games.

Apart from Indians, keep an eye on Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Iran’s Hassan Yazdanicharati among the men and Risako Kawai and Sara Dosho in women’s freestyle.