Reigning world medalists Ravi Dhaiya, Bajrang Punia, Deepak PUNIA, Vinesh Phogat will lead a loaded Indian freestyle squad into the Matteo Pellicone, the first ranking series of 2020. WrestlingTV.in, the exclusive digital destination for the sport of wrestling in India will bring the entire LIVE and EXCLUSIVE for the fans from the ranking series in Rome. WrestlingTV in last few months has brought the sport closer to the fans by live-streaming all national and international wrestling events live and exclusive in the Indian Sub-Continent market.
High Hopes from the Indian Squad – The Indian team will be challenged by biggest of the global stars of wrestling as more than 30 world medallists including Kyle Dake, Mensha Stock, Frank Chamizo, Adeline Gray are set to participate in the event. The Japanese along with the top Russian wrestlers are yet to confirm their participation.
Also Read: Sportstar Aces Awards : Champion Bajrang Punia named Sportsman of the Year
Ravi Dhaiya to be challenged by top Americans –Ravi qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games at 57kg with a bronze-medal finish in Nur-Sultan and quite possibly has the toughest road to gold in Rome. Ravi’s road could weave through a trio of seasoned American wrestlers with past senior or age-group world medals and a 2020 Olympian. The United States is sending Joseph COLON (USA), Daton FIX (USA) and Thomas GILMAN (USA).
Colon medaled (bronze) at 61kg in 2018, while Gilman was a 2017 world runner-up in Paris and finished in fifth place in 2018. But it’s the youngster Fix who is the leading man at the weight for the Stars and Stripes after downing Gilman for the world championship starting the sport. Fix was a junior world champion back in 2017. Serbia’s Stevan MICIC will also be competing at 57kg. Micic became his nation’s first freestyle Olympian after finishing in fifth place at the 2019 World Championships.
Bajrang Punia good for gold in 65kg – Bajrang, a 2018 word silver medalist and 2019 world bronze-medal finisher could see Iran’s reigning world bronze medalist Behnam EHSANPOOR on his road to a potential fourth career Ranking Series gold.
Hassan Yazdani injured, Deepak Punia favourite in 86kg – India’s junior world champion and senior world silver medallist Deepak Punia will start as the top seed in the absence of Olympic and World Champion Hassan Yazdani of Iran in 86kg. Punia’s toughest competition at the weight will be 2018 world silver medalist Fatih ERDIN (TUR) and 2020 Olympian Myles AMINE (SMR).
Can Vinesh Phogat deliver a winning start to 2020-In last few months World Championship bronze medallist has emerged as India’s best bet at Tokyo 2020? All Indian fans would like to see Vinesh delivering a winning start to the year 2020. She will be seeded number 1 at the championships and will eye gold in 53kg in Rome.
All the battles of Indian and other global stars will be brought LIVE and EXCLUSIVE by WrestlingTV.in
The Indian squad for the Rome Ranking Series
Women Wrestling
50Kg Final – Nirmala Devi
53Kg Final – Vinesh Phogat
57Kg Final – Anshu Malik
62Kg Final – Sonam
68Kg Final – Divya Kakran
76Kg Final – Kiran
Men’s Freestyle
57kg – Ravi Dhaiya
65kg – Bajrang Punia
74kg – Jitender
86kg – Deepak Punia
97kg – Satyawart Kadian
125kg – Sumit Malik
Greco-Roman squad
60kg – Gyanender, Sachin Rana
67kg – Ashu
77kg – Gurpreet Singh, Sajan
87kg – Sunil Kumar
97kg – Hardeep
130kg – Naveen
Watch the Rome Ranking Series LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on WrestlingTV.in from 15th January @ 2.30 PM
