Star wrestler Bajrang Punia needed less than four minutes to book a berth in India's World Championship squad while Ravi Kumar Dahiya earned his chance by winning the most competitive category during the trials on Friday, 26 July.
Bajrang, who competed in the 65 kg category, had a walkover over his opponent Harphul Singh who met with a knee injury during the bout. With Sushil not being a part of the trials, Bajrang was the one everyone had their eyes on.
Presence of proven performer Bajrang in the 65kg trials meant that most of the wrestlers in this category preferred to stay away. Harphul, the reigning national champion, took on the world number one but he could not compete with Bajrang for two full rounds.
The walkover meant that Bajrang had an automatic qualification for the World Wrestling Championship. A win there will take him to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
“If the bout had lasted for full six minutes, it would have been good for me as well as the fans who came to watch us wrestle. It feels bad when the bout has to end like that. When a wrestler suffers an injury, it really pegs him back. All ofus work hard, I feel bad for him.”Bajrang Punia
There was fierce competition among the wrestlers from different categories with their teammates egging them from the sidelines.
There were trials in the 57, 97 and 125 kg categories as well. While Ravi Dahiya beat Rahul 12-2 in the 57 kg category. In the 86 kg category, Deepak Punia won the final round 5-0 against Pawan. Mausam Khatri beat Satyavrat Kadiyan 8-1 in the final round of the 97kg category.
The final was expected to be a stiff battle but Rahul, who knocked out 2016 Asian Champion Sandeep Tomar and Utkarsh Kale were no match for Ravi.
In the 125 kg category bout, Sumit Malik beat Satinder Malik 3-0.
Winners from all the categories will now advance into World Wrestling Championships.
The trials in the 74 kg category, in which two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar competes will be held in the next month. With Jitender Kumar and Praveen Kumar injured and needing time to recover, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) obliged to their request.
(With inputs from PTI)
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