Individual World Cup Day 3 Preview: After India’s poor show in Greco Roman style, all attention will now shift to the star-studded women wrestling. On day three of the competition, four Indian wrestler will test their mettle as they return to the mat after a long 10-month gap due to COVID-19. The third day will feature 50kg, 55kg, 62kg, and 72kg weight categories. Interestingly, India had won medals in all these weight classes in February during the Asian Championships in New Delhi.
In 50kg, Asia’s silver medallist Nirmala Devi, who is also the oldest will vie her chances for another podium finish. She will be up against Emilia Vuc of Romania and Ekaterina Poleshchuk of Russia. Vuc, ranked No.1 in the world, finished second to Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan at the 2019 World Championships in Nur Sultan. Poleshchuk, on the other hand, won bronze. Both the wrestlers have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Nirmala, meanwhile, is yet to do so.
In 55kg, Pinki, the gold medallist of Asian Championship will most probably compete in a round-table match as there are only eight wrestlers in her weight class. Her biggest opponent would be 2019 world championship bronze medallist Iryna Kurachkina of Belarus.
The 62kg, however, will be the most closely watched from India’s perspective. India has fielded youngster Sonam Malik in the middle-weight category. The 19-year-old, who has won two cadet world championship gold medals, is yet to prove her worth on the senior international level. At the domestic level, she shocked everyone when she defeated Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik at the national trials in January and February and a medal at the world cup would do wonders to her confidence. However, it will not be an easy task given the level of competition in 62kg women’s weight class. Her biggest hurdle would be Nur-Sultan world champ Aisuluu Tynbekova.
The final weight category which feature on day 3 is 72kg. India’s ‘SuperMom’ Gursharan Preet Kaur will be eyeing to make the most of the opportunity with one eye on the 76kg Olympic spot which is currently held by Kiran.
Besides women wrestling, Day 3 will also feature Greco Roman’s repechage and finals of 60kg, 63kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg
Full Day 3 schedule here
3:30 AM IST – 6:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (WW – 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)
3:30 AM IST – 6:30 PM IST: Repechage (GR – 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)
9:30 PM IST – 10:15 PM IST: Semi-finals (WW – 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)
10:30 PM IST – 12:30 AM IST: Finals (GR – 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)