World Wrestling Championships | Vinesh Phogat loses to reigning world champion in pre-quarters
After a dominant start to her campaign, India’s biggest medal hope Vinesh Phogat lost to Mayu Mukaida of Japan in her pre-quarterfinal match at the World Championships on Tuesday. Phogat can now only hope Mukaida reaches the final, which will give her a chance at winning a bronze via repechage.
The World no.6 Indian wrestler, on Tuesday, was knocked out of the World Wrestling Championships in the pre-quarterfinals. After a great start to her campaign at Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, where she defeated Olympic bronze medallist Sofia Mattsson 13-0 in her opening bout of the 53kg category, Vinesh was trounced 7-0 by the Japanese reigning world champion.
Vinesh, however, has a chance of getting a repechage and thus a shot at a bronze medal and a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, if Mukaida makes it to the final. Mukaida faces Greek Maria Prevolaraki in the semi-final after defeating American World No.1 Sarah Hilderbrandt 12-1 in the quarters. If Mukaida reaches the final, Vinesh will be facing Hilderbrandt in her next bout.
Among the other Indians in action on Tuesday, there was not much to cheer about. Naveen lost his 130kg Greco-Roman repechage match against Estonia's Heike Nabi 9-0 and thus lost his opportunity to earn a spot in the Olympics. Lalita Shehrawat lost at the 1/8 stage of the 55kg category to Mongolia's Bolortuya Batochir. In 72kg, Komal Bhagwal Gole lost to Turkey's Beste Altug.
Seema lost in the 1/8 stage of the women's 50kg category to Rio Olympics silver medallist Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan. Like Vinesh, Seema will be hoping for a repechage with Stadnik reaching the semi-final and within a match of confirming a silver medal.
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