Vinesh Phogat & Sakshi Malik qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics

Sakshi MalikVinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik earned 2016 Rio Olympics quota spots in wrestling, as the duo entered the final of 2nd Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the first time two female Indian wrestlers will compete at the Olympics.

While Vinesh earned the spot in 48 kg, Sakshi earned quota in the 58 kg. Though the duo earned quota spots, there is no assurance that they will represent India at the Olympics. National trials will determine who will compete at the Games in August. In 2012 London Olympics, Geeta Phogat became the first Indian female wrestler (55 kg) to compete at the Olympics.

  • Vinesh earned the spot as she defeated Evin Demirhan of Turkey in the semifinal. She will face Poland’s Iwona Nina Matkowska in the final.
  • Sakshi earned the quota as she beat Lan Zhang of China in the semifinal. She will face Russia’s Valeria Koblova Zholobova in the final.
  • Vinesh and Sakshi joined Yogeshwar Dutt, Narsingh Yadav, Sandeep Tomar and Hardeep Singh who have already clinched qualifying places in the tournament.

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