Why Bajrang’s Paris Olympics hopes are over, but Vinesh can qualify | Top Vip News

In the latest update from the Indian wrestling fraternity, which took many by surprise, Bajrang Punia’s aspirations of representing the nation at the Paris 2024 Olympics are almost over. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medalist failed to come out on top in his weight class in the national selection event, which is organized by the ad hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). . Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat secured victory in the women’s 50kg category.

Here’s everything you need to know about wrestling tryouts:

Before delving into Bajrang Punia’s defeat and Vinesh Phogat’s victory, let us first understand what the road to Paris is like for Indian wrestlers.

Indian wrestlers can earn Olympic quotas through three competitions:

• World Wrestling Championship 2023 (September 16-24, 2023)

• 2024 Asian Qualification Tournament (April 19-21, 2024)

• 2024 World Qualification Tournament (May 9-12, 2024)

So far, only one Indian wrestler has earned a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In the trio’s only qualifying event that has already been held, the 2023 World Wrestling Championships, Antim Panghal clinched a bronze medal, earning India a spot. The Haryana teenager defeated some renowned wrestlers in that competition in Belgrade, Serbia, including World Championship medalist Roksana Zasina and three-time European Championship medalist Jonna Malmgren.

The remaining two Olympic qualifying events are yet to take place, so why have Bajrang Punia’s hopes already evaporated?

This is because performance in the national qualifiers will determine whether a wrestler will be sent to the Olympic qualifiers. The three-member ad hoc committee, which is currently looking after the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), will conduct trials on March 10 and 11 in Sonepat and Patiala.

Candidates from each weight division compete against each other in a knockout tournament, where the winners of each category will earn the right to represent India in the upcoming qualifiers in Bishkek and Istanbul.

Bajrang Punia – one of the main names involved in a year-long protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh – has had to endure a difficult period, after a long period away from the sport. Last year’s Asian Games did not yield any awards as Bajrang suffered a loss against Japan’s Kaiki Yamaguchi in the bronze medal match.

However, in his semi-final match in the men’s 65kg category, Bajrang suffered a complete 1-9 loss to Rohit Kumar. In the final, however, Rohit suffered a loss to Sujeet Kalakal.

Barring Bajrang, another surprising elimination shocked the crowd at Sonepat. Ravi Kumar Dahiya, who won a bronze medal for India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, suffered two consecutive defeats.

The 26-year-old started his day with a 13-14 loss against Aman Sehrawat, before losing 8-10 to Asian Under-20 Championship winner Udit. Sehrawat won the men’s 57kg category.

Here is the list of fighters who emerged victorious:

Free style:

• 57kg – Aman Sehrawat

• 65kg – Sujeet Kalakal

• 74kg – Jaideep

• 86kg – Deepak Punia

• 97kg – Deepak Nehra

• 125kg – Sumit Malik

Greco-Roman:

• 60kg – Sumeet

• 67kg – Ashu

• 77kg – Vikas

• 87kg – Sunil Kumar

• 97kg – Nitesh

• 130kg – shipen

Vinesh Phogat, another active member of the protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, emerged victorious in the trials, but not in her preferred weight division.

The three-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist competed in the 50kg and 53kg categories. The latter is his preferred division, although it is also the category in which Antim Panghal has secured a quota.

Anju defeated her 0-10 in the semi-final of the 53kg category, but in the 50kg category, Vinesh overcame a 3-6 deficit to win 1-6 against Shivani in the final.