Grappler Ravi Dahiya rallies from 2-9 down and even survives a bite from Kazakhstan’s Sanayev before pinning him down to storm into gold medal match; becomes only second Indian wrestler to enter an Olympic final
Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev (right) and India’s Ravi Dahiya during the 57kg freestyle semis yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI
Ravi Dahiya on Wednesday became only the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the title clash at the Olympic Games, when he sensationally turned around the 57kg semi-final bout by pinning Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev here on Wednesday.
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Before Dahiya, a son of a farmer from Haryana, Sushil Kumar was the only Indian to make the gold medal bout at the 2012 Olympics in London where he had settled for a silver. The fourth seeded Dahiya trailed 2-9 after Sanayev effected a few ‘fitley’ (leg lace) but as the clocked ticked away, Dahiya regrouped and got hold of his rival with a double leg attack that resulted in a ‘victory by fall’.
“I had no business conceding that much lead against Sanayev. I am not happy with it,” Dahiya told PTI when asked about his inspiring achievement.
“I have beaten Sanayev twice before, so I knew I can pull it off despite trailing by a huge margin. I was assured inside, but I should not have conceded lead and made it a close fight. That was pretty bad of me,” he said.
Nurislam Sanayev (left) bites Ravi Dahiya during their bout
“I have some unfinished business to do. I came with a target here and that is not complete yet [winning gold].”
In the final on Thursday, Dahiya will face reigning world champion Russian Zavur Uguev to whom he had lost in the 2019 World Championship semi-finals. Despite a huge deficit, Dahiya, 23, did not panic, showing tremendous mental strength and dramatically turned the bout in his favour.
Deepak to fight for bronze; Anshu gets repechage route
Indian wrestler Deepak Punia will fight for bronze medal after he was outclassed by formidable American David Morris Taylor in the 86kg semi-finals here on Wednesday.
It was always going to be a herculean task for Punia to trouble the American, the 2018 world champion and the reigning Pan-American champion.
It was hardly a contest as Taylor effected one move after another to win by technical superiority in the first period itself.
Anshu Malik, on the other hand, lost her opening 57kg bout to European champion Irina Kurachikina but since the Belarus wrestler reached the final, the Indian got a second chance to be in medal round. She will now compete in the repechage round on Thursday and if she wins, she will also fight for bronze.
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Two
No. of contests Ravi Dahiya won on technical superiority en route the Olympic final
1-0
Zavur Uguev’s record against his final opponent Dahiya. The Russian beat the Indian in the 2019 World C’ship SF
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