Indian wrestling contingent eyes Tokyo Olympic glory, high hopes from Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia
Indian wrestling team will step to fulfil the expectations of 1.3 Billion Indians at the Tokyo Olympics that is commencing on July 23.
The seven-member Indian wrestling contingent at the Tokyo Olympics comprises four women and three men.
Indian Wrestling suffered a major blow after double Olympic medalist wrestler Sushil Kumar was arrested in a case of murder of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankha.
Vinesh Phogat, who makes Budapest her training base, secured an Olympic quota for India in the 53kg category at the 2019 World Championships with a bronze in Nur-Sultan. She is the front-runner to win a medal for the country.
Vinesh was ruled out of the 2016 Rio Olympics in the quarter-finals due to a serious knee injury. Vinesh can surpass Sakshi Malik's feat at the 2016 Rio Olympics with her kind commitment, where she won a bronze medal in the 58kg category.
Sonam Malik, a teenager from Madina village in Sonepat, could be the black horse of the Indian contingent as she has been giving great performances one after the other in domestic and international competitions at the age of just 19.
Defeating Sakshi, the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medalist, four times - thrice at the trials - in a span of one year means Sonam is a top medal contender.