Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Indian wrestlers have continued to win medals at every Olympics, consolidating the status of Indian wrestlers. wrestlingIt has established its status as the premier Olympic sport in the country. This success has also extended to the youth level, and with the emergence of the U23 world championship, people have even greater expectations for Paris’ outstanding performance.
Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal in 2008 marked a turning point in the perception of wrestling in India. Also won a bronze medal.
Sakshi Malik continued the tradition at Rio 2016 by winning a bronze medal, while Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia A double at the postponed Tokyo Olympics (2021).
Despite the sport’s meteoric rise and promise of greater achievements, India’s top wrestlers have been marred by a long-running protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh this sport.
National training camps and domestic competitions have been suspended, leading to uncertainty and chaos. Accusations and rebuttals followed. Although the WFI held elections and national institutions faced a shutdown, the UWW’s lifting of the shutdown marked a return to normalcy.
But with just one male and five female wrestlers qualifying for the Paris Games, the future of the sport is both hopeful and uncertain.
Aman Serawat (Men’s 57kg category)
Aman’s continued improvement resulted in an astonishing feat: he dethroned Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, the strongest Indian wrestler in the men’s 57kg category.
Aman’s main asset is his extraordinary stamina and stamina. If the game lasts six minutes, it’s hard to beat him.
However, his limited strategy and technique are areas for improvement. This was particularly evident during the Hungary Ranking Series match against Rei Higuchi, who seemed to lack a backup plan. At this level of play, having a specific strategy for each opponent is crucial.
Aman’s most significant challenges come from Uzbekistan’s Rei Higuchi and Gulomyan Abdullaev.
Vinesh Bogat (Women’s 50kg)
Vinesh Phogat is undeniably one of the best female wrestlers in India. Her strong defense and impressive offensive skills are her key assets.
However, her lack of significant game time against elite players over the past year or so could present a challenge.
Dropping to 50kg would put additional stress on her body. The weight loss process before the competition is very hard and consumes the body’s energy, which is especially challenging for her who is nearly 30 years old. .
Antim Pangal (Women’s 53kg category):
The dynamic wrestler from Hisar was the first to earn a spot in the event. Paris Olympics. At the height of the wrestling protests related to the WFI president, she also called for Vinesh to be put on trial.
Her extraordinary agility is her greatest asset, allowing her to effortlessly escape the grasp of her opponents. Trapping her is a challenging task. She possesses both spark and fire.
Despite this, she has not participated in any competition since the Asian Games. She was unable to participate in this year’s Asian Championships due to a back injury. A lack of game time and competitive experience may have been her undoing.
ANSHU MALIK (Women’s 57kg)
Anshu’s journey in the wrestling world has been filled with ups and downs since his impressive performance in the junior ranks and his transition to the senior ranks. Despite the challenges posed by injuries, she remains one of India’s top prospects heading into the Paris Olympics.
Her strengths lie in her quick movements and aggressive approach.
Although she may not have been fully prepared for the Olympics as a teenager in Tokyo, her experience at the Games gave her valuable insight into the demands of high-level competition.
However, as she neared the Olympics, there were concerns about her health due to a potential shoulder injury. Although Anshu insisted it was just a neck spasm, there was some uncertainty about her condition due to a lack of thorough examination.
NISHA DAHIYA (women 68 kg)
Rising star Nisha Dahiya has carefully secured her place at the Paris Olympics despite facing setbacks as injuries hamper her progress. She has bounced back strongly since 2021, catching her opponents off guard with her ferocious fighting style.
Dahiya has a wealth of experience and a fearless attitude that is her greatest asset. However, her lack of consistent opportunities to compete at a high level is a drawback, and she tends to lose steam in the final minutes of matches.
Long matches often cause problems for Nissa as she tends to put all her energy into the first four minutes of the match.
Managing her nerves during the premiere was also crucial to Nisha’s success.
Ritika Hooda (women’s 76kg)
Retika is a formidable competitor in the wrestling world with the ability to catch her opponents off guard. While not completely new to the wrestling world, her extraordinary strength could pose a significant challenge to even seasoned wrestlers.
Retika’s arsenal includes impressive strength and technical prowess. However, she has a tendency to lose points in the final 30 seconds of games.
Despite her lead, she often found herself losing hard-earned points. This suggests her Achilles’ heel may be a lack of concentration in the final moments of games.
(With PTI input)
Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal in 2008 marked a turning point in the perception of wrestling in India. Also won a bronze medal.
Sakshi Malik continued the tradition at Rio 2016 by winning a bronze medal, while Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia A double at the postponed Tokyo Olympics (2021).
Despite the sport’s meteoric rise and promise of greater achievements, India’s top wrestlers have been marred by a long-running protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh this sport.
National training camps and domestic competitions have been suspended, leading to uncertainty and chaos. Accusations and rebuttals followed. Although the WFI held elections and national institutions faced a shutdown, the UWW’s lifting of the shutdown marked a return to normalcy.
But with just one male and five female wrestlers qualifying for the Paris Games, the future of the sport is both hopeful and uncertain.
Aman Serawat (Men’s 57kg category)
Aman’s continued improvement resulted in an astonishing feat: he dethroned Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, the strongest Indian wrestler in the men’s 57kg category.
Aman’s main asset is his extraordinary stamina and stamina. If the game lasts six minutes, it’s hard to beat him.
However, his limited strategy and technique are areas for improvement. This was particularly evident during the Hungary Ranking Series match against Rei Higuchi, who seemed to lack a backup plan. At this level of play, having a specific strategy for each opponent is crucial.
Aman’s most significant challenges come from Uzbekistan’s Rei Higuchi and Gulomyan Abdullaev.
Vinesh Bogat (Women’s 50kg)
Vinesh Phogat is undeniably one of the best female wrestlers in India. Her strong defense and impressive offensive skills are her key assets.
However, her lack of significant game time against elite players over the past year or so could present a challenge.
Dropping to 50kg would put additional stress on her body. The weight loss process before the competition is very hard and consumes the body’s energy, which is especially challenging for her who is nearly 30 years old. .
Antim Pangal (Women’s 53kg category):
The dynamic wrestler from Hisar was the first to earn a spot in the event. Paris Olympics. At the height of the wrestling protests related to the WFI president, she also called for Vinesh to be put on trial.
Her extraordinary agility is her greatest asset, allowing her to effortlessly escape the grasp of her opponents. Trapping her is a challenging task. She possesses both spark and fire.
Despite this, she has not participated in any competition since the Asian Games. She was unable to participate in this year’s Asian Championships due to a back injury. A lack of game time and competitive experience may have been her undoing.
ANSHU MALIK (Women’s 57kg)
Anshu’s journey in the wrestling world has been filled with ups and downs since his impressive performance in the junior ranks and his transition to the senior ranks. Despite the challenges posed by injuries, she remains one of India’s top prospects heading into the Paris Olympics.
Her strengths lie in her quick movements and aggressive approach.
Although she may not have been fully prepared for the Olympics as a teenager in Tokyo, her experience at the Games gave her valuable insight into the demands of high-level competition.
However, as she neared the Olympics, there were concerns about her health due to a potential shoulder injury. Although Anshu insisted it was just a neck spasm, there was some uncertainty about her condition due to a lack of thorough examination.
NISHA DAHIYA (women 68 kg)
Rising star Nisha Dahiya has carefully secured her place at the Paris Olympics despite facing setbacks as injuries hamper her progress. She has bounced back strongly since 2021, catching her opponents off guard with her ferocious fighting style.
Dahiya has a wealth of experience and a fearless attitude that is her greatest asset. However, her lack of consistent opportunities to compete at a high level is a drawback, and she tends to lose steam in the final minutes of matches.
Long matches often cause problems for Nissa as she tends to put all her energy into the first four minutes of the match.
Managing her nerves during the premiere was also crucial to Nisha’s success.
Ritika Hooda (women’s 76kg)
Retika is a formidable competitor in the wrestling world with the ability to catch her opponents off guard. While not completely new to the wrestling world, her extraordinary strength could pose a significant challenge to even seasoned wrestlers.
Retika’s arsenal includes impressive strength and technical prowess. However, she has a tendency to lose points in the final 30 seconds of games.
Despite her lead, she often found herself losing hard-earned points. This suggests her Achilles’ heel may be a lack of concentration in the final moments of games.
(With PTI input)
