Star wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat will spearhead the Indian women's squad at the Asian Games to be held in Jakarta in August.
Sakshi, a bronze medallist from the 2016 Olympic Games, will represent India in the 62kg category while Vinesh will compete in the 50kg division.
The men’s Indian freestyle wrestling contingent will be led by Sushil Kumar (74 kg) and Bajrang Punia (65 kg). Both these wrestlers didn’t take part in the trials and were selected on the basis of their past performances.
Men’s Freestyle Team: Sandeep Tomar (57 kg), Bajrang Punia (65 kg), Sushil Kumar (74 kg), Pawan Kumar (86 kg), Mausam Khatri (97 kg) and Sumit Malik (125 kg).
Greco-Roman: Gyanender (59 kg), Manish (67 kg), Gurpreet Singh (77 kg), Harpreet Singh (87 kg), Hardeep Singh (97 kg) and Naveen (130 kg).
Women’s Freestyle Team: Sakshi Malik (62 kg), Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Pinki (53kg), Pooja Dhanda (57kg), Divya Kakran (68kg) and Kiran (72kg).
Here’s a look at five players to watch in the Indian wrestling contingent for the Asian Games.
1. Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar is one of the most decorated sports persons of India. He is the only Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals after independence. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics and a silver at the 2012 Olympics in the 66 kg freestyle event.
The 35-year-old has clinched at least one gold medal at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championship, but he has won only one bronze medal at the Asian Games.
Sushil Kumar, who competed in the 74 kg category at the Commonwealth Games, earlier this year, won the gold medal match against South Africa’s Johannes Botha in just 80 seconds. He won his third consecutive CWG gold.
2. Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia, who clinched the silver medal in the 61 kg event at the 2014 Asian Games, flourished in this year’s Commonwealth Games as well. He beat Wales’ Kane Charig in the final of the 65 kg event.
Punia, who has a Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games gold to his name, is yet to win an Asian Games gold medal.
3. Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in 2016, had to settle for a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games 2018.
Malik was out in the first round after losing to Canada's Michelle Fazzari and Nigeria's Aminat Adeniyi after a victory over Cameroon's Berthe Ngolle. Once Malik was out of contention for the gold medal match, she fought her way to the bronze medal, beating New Zealand’s Tayla Ford 6-5 to clinch the medal in the 58 kg event.
Sakshi, who hasn’t won an Asian Games medal yet, will be looking to change her record. She will be competing in the 62 kg event.
4. Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat will be going into the Asian Games with a lot of confidence as she won the gold medal in the 50 kg event at the Commonwealth Games this year. She defeated Canada’s Jessica Macdonald 13-3 in the gold medal match.
The 23-year-old has an Asian Games bronze medal, which she won in 2014, but she will definitely be trying to clinch a gold medal in this year’s Asian Games.
Vinesh, who will be competing in the 50 kg event, has two CWG golds to her name.
5. Sumit Malik
Sumit Malik will be one of the big contenders in the 125 kg event as he is going into Asian Games with a CWG gold medal. Malik beat Pakistan's Tayab Raza 10-4 in a dramatic bout in the semi-final at CWG 2018 before Sinivie Boltic of Nigeria pulled out of the final due to an injury.
Malik, who has bagged silvers at the Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships, will be eyeing the gold medal in the Asian Games this year.
(With inputs from IANS)
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