Sonam to kick off India’s wrestling campaign

Tokyo, Aug. 2: Their remarkable performances in the build-up to the Tokyo Games creating high hopes of multiple medals at the Olympics, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat will have spotlight on them when India’s seven wrestlers, beginning with Sonam Malik, open their campaigns here from Tuesday.

Wrestling is one sport which promised at least three podium finishes and anything less than that will be a below par show, irrespective of the colour of the medal.

Apart from Bajrang (FS 65kg) and Vinesh (WW 53kg), Ravi Dahiya

(FS 57kg) is expected to deliver at the biggest stage in the next few days.

The 19-year-old Sonam will be first to take mat in the 62kg category, pitted against Mongolia’s Asian Championship silver medallist Bolortuya Khurelkhuu.

Both Sonam and Anshu Malik, also 19, carry with themselves an unpredictability factor, being new to the senior circuit. They have the spunk, grit and gumption. Anshu has a complete game and is getting better by the day.

But when it comes to their senior Vinesh, she is a capable of beating all contenders even as the competition will be very tight in her category.

Vinesh has got better on defence and unmatched when it comes to counterattack skills and it showed in her Asian title winning show this season.

The men’s challenge will be led by Bajrang, who too is a much respected wrestler at the global level. In his last 10 international tournaments, he has won six gold medals, three silver and one bronze.

His superior stamina sets him apart but his leg defence will be tested in a very competitive category where at least 5-6 wrestlers are capable of winning gold. Talk about Ravi and he too is a genuine medal contender but has not attracted much attention.

Zavur Uguev (RUS) and Suleyman Atli (Turkey) will be threats in his category.

Finally, one wrestler who is going a bit under-prepared in terms of competition time is Deepak Punia (FS 86kg).

He has not competed since the 2020 World Cup. He has been nursing a left elbow injury and withdrew from the Poland Open.