Aman advances to semifinals, Deepak Punia’s Paris Olympic qualification in jeopardy

In a rollercoaster day for Indian wrestlers at the World Qualifiers, Deepak Punia faced a devastating defeat in the first round, while young Aman Sehrawat shone bright by moving to the 57kg semifinals, just one win away from securing a quota for the Paris Games.

Punia, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, suffered a 4-6 loss to China’s Zushen Lin, putting his Olympic qualification hopes in jeopardy. Now, Punia’s fate hinges on Lin’s performance in the tournament.

On the other hand, 20-year-old Aman Sehrawat showcased his prowess by securing victories in both his bouts, including a dominant performance against Ukraine’s Andrii Yatsenko. With his eyes set on an Olympic berth, Aman is determined to make his mark on the international stage.

Meanwhile, Sujeet Kalkal and Jaideep Ahlawat also made their mark by advancing to the quarterfinals and pre-quarterfinals, respectively, in their weight categories. The Indian male wrestlers are yet to secure any Olympic berths, making this tournament their last chance to qualify for the Games.

Despite the setbacks faced by Deepak Punia, the Indian contingent remains hopeful and determined to secure Olympic quotas in the remaining bouts. With the competition heating up, the Indian wrestlers are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for Olympic glory.