Vinesh Phogat secures Olympic quotas in Asian Qualifiers

New Delhi: Indian grapplers Vinesh Phogat and Anshu have secured Olympic quotas for India following their impressive performances at the Asian Qualifiers.

Phogat dominated her 50 Kg semifinal bout, registering a convincing 10-0 win over Kazakhstan's Laura Ganikyzy. Meanwhile, Anshu secured her quota in the 57 Kg category with an 11-0 victory by technical superiority against Laylokhon Sobirova from Uzbekistan.

Phogat, making her comeback from a knee injury sustained last August that required surgery, displayed her trademark dominance on the mat. She took an early lead in her bout, scoring two points followed by a takedown to end the first round with a 4-0 lead. She further extended her lead, executing two rolls to secure a 10-0 victory over Ganikyzy.

Anshu's path to the quota in the 57 Kg category was relatively straightforward, with only eight wrestlers competing in her weight class. She defeated Kyrgyzstan's Kalmira Bilimbekova via technical superiority before overpowering Sobirova in the semifinal.

It's worth noting that the Olympic quota secured by the wrestlers belongs to the country, not the individual.

With their victories in the Asian Qualifiers, Phogat and Anshu have moved a step closer to representing India at the Paris Olympics.

Additionally, Reetika Hooda joined the list of Indian wrestlers securing Olympic quotas by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chang Hui Tz in the 76 Kg semifinal.

The focus now shifts to intensive training and preparations as these wrestlers aim to make a mark on the global stage at the upcoming Paris Olympics.