India’s Sonam Malik handed opening-round loss in women’s wrestling at Tokyo Olympics
One her Olympic debut, the Indian wrestler lost to Asian championship silver medallist Khürelkhüügiin Bolortuyaa of Mongolia in the women’s 62kg.
Indian wrestler Sonam Malik’s debut Olympic campaign ended in an opening round defeat to Mongolia’s Khürelkhüügiin Bolortuyaa in the women’s 62kg category.
At the Makuhari Messe, Sonam Malik lost on criteria after the two wrestlers were tied 2-2 on points at the end of the bout. The Mongolian was awarded the win based on the ‘highest scoring point’ rule.
As per wrestling rules, in case of a tie, the winner is decided based on the highest scoring move by the wrestler. Bolortuyaa executed a two-point takedown in the second period, while Sonam collected one point in each of the two halves.
Moreover, the 19-year-old Sonam Malik’s hopes of a re-entry into the competition through the repechage round were dashed after Khürelkhüügiin Bolortuyaa lost to the former world champion and the second seed Taybe Yusein of Bulgaria in the quater-finals.
The repechage rule allows wrestlers who have lost early in the competition a second chance, should their victor make it to the final.
India’s Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Sakshi Malik each won an Olympic medal through the repechage rounds.
Heading into the Summer Games on the back of a knee injury, the Indian wrestler began on a cautious note as the two wrestlers gauged their opponent’s moves in the initial exchanges.
With no clear openings, Sonam Malik kept the pressure on Bolortuyaa and shut any openings by staying close to the Mongolian.
The young Indian was the first to register a point by pushing her opponent out of bounds and then doubled the advantage at the start of the second round to force the Mongolian into action.
Khürelkhüügiin Bolortuyaa, the silver medallist from the Asian wrestling championships earlier this year, didn’t panic and was rewarded for her patience with seconds remaining on the clock.
A single-leg takedown, worth two points, was enough for Bolortuyaa to win the bout.
Sonam Malik had sealed her place at Tokyo 2020 through the Asian Olympic qualifiers in April.
Competing in the 62kg category, Sonam Malik has had commendable success in the run up to the Tokyo Olympics with as many as four wins over the Rio 2016 bronze medallist Sakshi Malik in the domestic circuit.