Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan): A reality check awaits India’s top wrestlers at the World Championships where they will chase not only glory but also Tokyo Olympics qualification. The event begins here, Saturday.
The run-up to the Wrestling Worlds has been spectacular for Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat while decent results have provided a dose of confidence to a few others like Divya Kakran.
Bajrang Punia triumphed at all four events he competed this season – Dan Kolov, Asian Championships, Ali Aliev and Yasar Dogu – and will go into the championships as the World No.1 and top seed in the 65kg segment., Bajrang Punia has been in the form of his life but there is a chink in his armour – the weak leg defence – and it will surely be tested.
For Vinesh, the season began in a new weight category as she moved up to 53kg from 50kg. Vinesh Phogat took some time to settle in her new class but still made five finals, winning three gold medals in the process – at Yasar Dogu, Grand Prix of Spain and Poland Open.
While skill is not an issue with Vinesh Phogat, holding off strong candidates for six minutes is a big challenge, she herself had admitted recently. The big-stage competition will help her make an assessment on this count as she eyes a maiden Worlds medal. A last-minute elbow injury had forced her to opt-out of the Budapest Championships last year. No Indian woman wrestler has ever won a gold medal at the Worlds and Vinesh has it in her to end India’s drought.
Only Sushil Kumar has won a World title in men’s freestyle in India’s wrestling history and Bajrang would be keen to end India’s wait for a second medal.
The 25-year-old himself has two World Championship medals but not a gold. His road though is full of challenges with the presence of Russian Gadzhimurad Rashidov and Bahrain’s Haji Mohammed Ali in his category.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has been struggling of late and is returning to the Worlds after a gap of eight years. He will be watched keenly in the 74kg competition as his relevance is being discussed for some time now. He remains bullish about his chances and Worlds will provide an opportunity to test his claims.
Like Sushil Kumar, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik (62kg) has been struggling on the international circuit. She has not won a title since her triumph at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships. This season, ending runner-up at Dan Kolov has been her best show. She had stunned reigning World Champion Petra Olli before eventually settling for a silver.
Divya Kakran (68kg), in contrast, is a bundle of energy and remains relentless throughout her bouts. She has won two gold and as many bronze medals this season and looks hungry for more. Another face to watch out for is Pooja Dhanda (59kg), who became only the fourth Indian woman to win a medal at the Worlds last year.
Among other men’s freestyle wrestlers, Deepak Punia is capable of springing a surprise. He is heading into the Championships after becoming India’s first junior World champion in 18 years.
PTI