Jasleen Singh Saini’s first-round loss ends India’s campaign at World Judo Championships
The defeat could spoil Saini’s chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics through a continental quota.
Indian judoka Jasleen Singh Saini bowed out in the first round of the men’s 66kg at the World Judo Championships 2021 in Budapest, Hungary on Monday.
World No. 61 Jasleen Singh Saini fell 1-0 to unseeded Radu Izvoreanu of Moldova in his opening round encounter in Pool B.
The bout began with both judokas being tentative and in two minds about attack.
Izvoreanu soon earned a Shido (warning for minor infringements) and then went defensive. Jasleen Singh Saini was similar with his approach, and both judokas earned a Shido each for non-combativity.
The bout soon petered out with neither judoka earning a point, forcing it to go into ‘golden score’ - where the first judoka to earn the point wins.
Izvoreanu was on the attack in the golden score. He twice attempted to get Jasleen Singh Saini off-balance and finally managed to upend the Indian judoka on his back, enough to earn a waza-ari (half-point).
It gave Izvoreanu the win and brought an end to India’s campaign at the World Judo Championships as the only other Indian in contention - L Shushila Devi - had also been eliminated on Sunday.
The loss could hurt Jasleen Singh Saini’s chances of going to the Tokyo Olympics.
The qualification rules state that the top 18 ranked judokas in the world across weight categories, as of June 28, 2021, will earn a direct spot to the Tokyo Olympics.
Apart from the top 18, a continental ranking list will be prepared and the highest-ranked players on the list will be handed an Olympics spot, subject to one judoka from each country.
There are no Indians in the top-18 in any weight category and only one can make the Tokyo Olympics through the continental quota.
As things stand, Shushila Devi holds the continental quota for India at the upcoming Olympics. Her loss on Sunday opened a window of opportunity for Jasleen Singh Saini, for whom a win would likely have been enough to make his Games debut.
However, it is likely L Shushila Devi will now be the sole representative for Indian judo at the Olympics.