Tokyo Olympics, wrestling: Sonam Malik could face former world champ Taybe Yusein in quarters
Indian wrestler Sonam Malik will face Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the Round of 16 of the women's 62kg freestyle category.
Indian wrestler Sonam Malik will open her Tokyo Olympics campaign against Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the women’s 62kg freestyle on Tuesday.
Sonam Malik is making her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020. Khurelkhuu won the Asian championships silver medal at Almaty, Kazakhstan earlier this year.
If Sonam Malik wins the opening bout, the Indian wrestler could face 2018 world champion and two-time European champion Taybe Yusein Mustafa of Bulgaria in the quarter-finals later in the day.
The Round of 16 through to the semi-finals of the women’s 62kg freestyle wrestling will be held on Wednesday, with the repechage and final scheduled for Thursday.
A two-time world cadet wrestling champion, Sonam Malik had twice beaten Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik in the national trials.
The 19-year-old Sonam Malik had sealed her Tokyo 2020 spot at the Asian Olympic wrestling qualifiers in April. However, an injury sustained in the event has since kept her out of action.
There will be seven Indian wrestlers at the Tokyo Olympics - with Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat considered medal favourites.