Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya — the Tokyo Games medallists — have been on Sunday eradicated from the race for the Paris Olympics qualification after shedding their respective bouts within the choice trials for the nationwide staff.
Punia, who was a distinguished face of protest towards former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, suffered a crushing 1-9 defeat within the males’s freestyle 65kg semifinal towards Rohit Kumar.
This was after he barely managed to win towards Ravinder (3-3 on standards) within the opening spherical.
If Ravinder had not conceded a warning level within the bout, Punia would have been eradicated within the opening bout itself.
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Punia had educated in Russia to organize for the trials, that are being organised by the IOA ad-hoc panel.
Punia although received a case within the Delhi High Court after contending that the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had no authority to conduct trials.
He left the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre right here in a huff after being eradicated. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) officers tried to gather a pattern for a dope check from Punia however he didn’t keep again even for the third-fourth place bout. As destiny would have it, will probably be Sujeet Kalakal who will now attempt to earn qualification within the 65kg for the Paris Games after profitable a spot within the Indian staff.
Sujeet had misplaced a authorized case towards Punia when he had challenged his direct entry for the Hangzhou Asian Games. Sujeet beat Rohit by technical superiority within the remaining.
Rohit will now signify India on the Asian Championships.
The winners on the trials will get the chance to compete at Asian and World Olympic Qualifiers to be held in Bishkek from April 19-21 and in Istanbul from May 9-12.
The males’s 57kg, being organised in Nordic format, was all the time a tricky class since each Tokyo Games silver medallist Ravi Dahiya and star-in-making Aman Sehrawat have been in rivalry.
Dahiya, who’s making a comeback from an damage, misplaced the high-scoring opening bout 13-14 to Aman. Both of them prepare at Chhatarsal Stadium.
Aman has made a reputation for himself after profitable medal at virtually all tournaments in 2023 when Dahiya didn’t compete. Aman, the Asian Games bronze medallist, staved a last-minute push from Dahiya to win the shut bout. Dahiya misplaced the subsequent bout to U20 Asian champion Udit to be eradicated.
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Aman will signify India on the Olympic Qualifiers in 57kg and given the expertise he possesses, he stands a great likelihood to succeed.
India have to date earned just one quota for the Paris Games via Antim Panghal (girls’s 53kg).
Other wrestlers to win trials have been — Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak Nehra (97kg) and Sumit Malik (125kg).
Indian staff for the Asian Qualifiers: 57kg Aman Sherawat 65kg Sujeet Kalkal 74kg Jaideep 86kg Deepak Punia 97kg Deepak Nehra 125kg Sumit Malik
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
