India’s Seema Bisla punches Tokyo ticket at World Wrestling Olympic qualifiers
The Indian wrestler, competing in the 50kg, beat European bronze medallist Anna Lukasiak of Poland in the semis to seal her quota.
Seema Bisla became the eighth wrestler from India to seal a quota place for the Tokyo Olympics at the ongoing world wrestling Olympic qualifiers in Sofia, Bulgaria on Friday.
Competing in the women’s 50kg weight division, the Haryana grappler beat the bronze medallist from the 2021 European wrestling championships, Poland’s Anna Lukasiak, 2-1 in a low-scoring semi-final at the Armeets Arena.
Starting the last-four match on a cautious note, the 29-year-old Seema was penalised for her passivity. The Indian wrestler, however, was quick to make amends with a quick takedown just before the break.
Seema Bisla, who has gone on to own the 50kg category in India ever since Vinesh Phogat’s move into the 53kg weight division, was at her defensive best in the second round. She didn’t allow the veteran Lukasiak any room to manoeuvre a move and closed the bout to seal her place at Tokyo 2020.
Though the Olympic quota belongs to the country, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is allowing the wrestler who has won the quota place to represent India at the Summer Games.
The Indian wrestler joins the elite company of Vinesh Phogat (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Sonam Malik (62kg) in the women’s, and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Deepak Punia (86 kg) and Sumit Malik (125kg) in the men’s freestyle as wrestlers to qualify for the Tokyo Games.
Meanwhile, the other Indians in action on the second day of the final qualifying event -- Nisha Dahiya (68kg), Pooja Sihag (76kg) -- failed to make the cut with early losses in their respective categories.
While Nisha Dahiya began her competition in the 68kg category with a commanding 12-1 win over Natalia Strzalka of Poland, she suffered a 12-2 loss to the former European champion Mimi Hristova of Bulgaria in the quarter-finals.
Pooja Sihag couldn't get past the first round, enduring a 5-4 loss to Kamile Gaucaite Lithuania.
Meanwhile, Sumit Malik, who booked his Tokyo 2020 berth by making the final in the 125kg category, forfeited the gold medal bout to an injury.
The penultimate day of the competition will see the Greco-Roman wrestlers take the mat for a crack at Olympic qualification.
While India has fielded a wrestler in each of the six weight divisions, Naveen Kumar (130kg) will skip the qualifiers after having tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of his bout.