Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat to lead Indian Wrestling team in Asian Games

Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and Commonwealth Games gold winner Vinesh Phogat have been picked to lead a six-member Indian women wrestling team at the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia later this year.

While four other wrestlers went through the trials here today to book their tickets for the Asian Games, Malik, who won bronze medals in this year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as well as 2016 Rio Olympics, and Vinesh, who grabbed gold in Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, were exempted from the trials by the Wrestling Federation of India because of their current form and past performances. 

Sakshi and Vinesh would compete in 50kg and 62kg freestyle categories. Other women wrestlers who would carry Indian hopes in the Asian Games are Pinki (53kg), Pooja Dhanda (57kg), Divya Kakran (68kg), and Kiran (72kg).

The Asian Games would be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.