World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers: All eyes on Wrestler Sunil Kumar and Gurpreet on Day 3 – On the third day of the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers, all eyes will be on India’s Sunil Kumar and Gurpreet Singh in Sofia, Bulgaria. Gurpreet, a 26-year-old wrestler from Punjab, will take on Daler Zade in 77-kg Greco-Roman qualifier while Sunil Kumar will face Davit Chakvetadze in the 87-kg quarterfinal.
Gurpreet couldn’t win a ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games during last month’s Asian Olympic qualifiers in Almaty. In the Asian Olympic qualification tournament, Gurpreet had defeated Korea’s 2016 Olympic medallist Kyeonwoo Kim in the preliminary round by a huge margin of 12-1. Asian champion Sunil Kumar (87kg) is another prominent Greco Roman wrestler who is aiming for the Olympics.
In the 97 kg 1/8, Final India’s Deepanshu will lock horns against Jesus Gasca while in the 67kg 1/8 Final Aashu will showcase his skills. In 60kg Qualifier Sachin Ranan will encounter Maksim Kazharski.
Twelve Indians are among the 400-plus wrestlers from across the globe competing in the World Olympic qualifier in Sofia. India has won six Olympic quota places in freestyle so far but is yet to make the cut in the Greco Roman event.
In womens’, Seema Bisla to take on Yamileth in 50kg final, Nisha to play Repechage vs Buse- Star Indian women wrestler Seema Bisla, who recently secured a Tokyo Olympics berth, will play her Gold match on Saturday against Lucia Yamileth. Seema confirmed her Olympic berth in 50kg after reaching the finals of the World Olympic Qualifier in Bulgaria on Friday.
Seema Bisla became the eighth Indian wrestler to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics today. Seema joins the elite company of Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg), Sumit Malik, (125kg) Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) in men’s freestyle and Vinesh Phogat (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Sonam Malik (62kg) in women weights for those who have qualified for the Olympics
On the other hand, Nisha will play her Repechage match against Buse Tosan. Nisha was seeded into the pre-quarterfinals where she faced Natalia Iwonz Strzalka (POL). The youngster kicked off her campaign with an emphatic 12-1 win over her Polish counterpart. But she could not carry her good form into the quarterfinal where she lost to2020 European Champion and 2021 Rome Rankings silver medallist Mimi Hristova (BUL) 12-2.
In 76kg, however, India will have no representation after Pooja was thumped Kamile Gaucaite (LTU) in a thriller.
List of Indian Wrestlers in action today:
MAT B
97kg 1/8Final
Deepanshu (IND) vs Jesus Gasca (ESP)
87kg 1/8Final
Sunil Kumar (IND) vs Davit Chakvetadze
67kg 1/8 Final
Aashu (IND) vs TBC
WW 68kg Repechage
Nisha (IND) vs Buse Tosan (TUR)
MAT C
77kg Qualifier
Gurpreet (IND) vs Daler Zade (TJK)
60kg Qualifier
Sachin Ranan (IND) vs Maksim Kazharski (BLR)