Sakshi Malik has missed out on her last opportunity of being in contention for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics berth. An era of domination came to an end as the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games medallist failed to earn a place in the Indian squad for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers.
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A new sun rises on the horizon of women’s wrestling as Sonam prevailed over the seasoned pro in the Wrestling Federation of India trials for a second successive time.
With a 3-2 win over Sakshi at the trials in Lucknow, Sonam conclusively established herself as the best contemporary 62 kg Indian women wrestler. Now, the Haryana teen will have the onus to prove that she is also good enough to be among the Asian contenders at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Sakshi and Sonam had started their try-outs from the quarter-finals stage. Sonam beat Radhika 5-1 in her first bout. In the semi-finals, she overcame New Delhi Asian Championships 59kg gold medallist Sarita 3-1.
Sakshi was off to a strong start, thrashing Seema 8-2 in the last eight round. She followed it up with a favourable technical superiority verdict in the semi-final against Mansi.
Up against her biggest challenge in the final, Sakshi failed to find an answer to Sonam’s youthful exuberance. Sonam will be India’s entry in the women’s 62kg category for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, next month.
The trials were also held for 76kg women and 60kg Greco-Roman events. Kiran and Gyanendra have respectively retained their place in the Indian team.
62KG
Qualification
Mansi (HAR ) beat Navjot Kaur ( RSPB )by 4-2
Quarter-Final
Sonam Malik ( HAR ) beat Radhika (HAR ) by 5-1
Sarita Mor (RSPB) beat Pooja Dhanda (HAR ) by 3-2
Sakshi Malik (RSPB)beat Seema ( RSPB) by 8-2
Mansi (HAR ) beat Anita (HAR ) by 6-0
Semi-Final
Soman Malik beat Sarita Mor by 3-1
Sakshi Malik beat Mansi by 10-0
FINAL
Sonam Malik beat Sakshi Malik by 3-2
76Kg
Quarter-Final
Sudesh (HAR ) beat Kavita (RSPB )by 8-6.
Semi-Final
Gursharan Kaur (PUB) beat Pinki (RSPB ) by 9-7
Kiran (RSPB ) beat Sudesh (HAR ) by 7-0
FINAL
Kiran (RSPB ) beat Gursharan Kaur (PUB) by4-2
GR – 60KG
SEMI- Final
Gyanendra beat Manish by 6-0
Vijay beat Sachin Rana by 6-1
Final
Gyanendra beat Vijay by 4-1
