World Wrestling C'ship: Vinesh books Olympic quota, Dhanda enters semis

Nur-Sultan:Indian star wrestler Vinesh Phogat 53 kg booked her Olympic quota and entered the bronze medal play-off in the ongoing World Wrestling Championships here on Wednesday.

Vinesh defeated defending Olympic silver medallist Sarah Hildebrandt 8-2 and became the first Indian wrestler to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She will next face Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the bronze medal match.  

Asian games gold medallist edged out Yuliya Khalvadzhy 5-0 in the first round of  repechage.  

In 59 kg Pooja Dhanda won against defending Asian champion Yuzuka Inagaki 11-8 making her way to semi-final. In the first round she had secured 12-2 win against Katsiaryna Hanchar-Yanushkevich.Since Dhanda weight category comes under non-Olympic category she cannot fight for an Olympiuc quota.    

In 50 kg Seema Bisla lost 3-11 to Ekaterina Poleshchuk in the second round of repechage. With this defeat her hopes of Olympic quota ends and is out of bronze medal fray.     

In 57 kg Sarita Mor went down 1-5 Anastasia Nichita while Kiran 76 kg lost 4-5 to Germany's Aline Rotter-Focken in the qualification round. Navjot Kaur 65 kg also went down in the first round. 

However, both Navjot and Kiran remain in contention for repechage, while Sarita is effectively ruled out.(UNI)