Tokyo 2020: Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik qualify; door shut on Sakshi Malik

India’s Anshu Malik became the fifth grappler to confirm a spot in the Tokyo Olympics at the Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports in Kazakhstan. Malik won her semi finals bout against Uzbekistan’s Akhmedova.

Four Indians have previously secured Tokyo Olympics berths — Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Vinesh Phogat (women’s 53kg).

India has sent a five-women squad to Kazakhstan. To be a part of the women’s squad, Vinesh Phogat won a bronze medal in the 2019 World Championship in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan. The remaining weight classes are 50kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, and 76kg. The  younger athletes, Anshu and Sonam Malik were the favourites to grab a place in the Tokyo Games.

Anshu,19, 57kg has won three medals in her only three senior competitions, and was one of the favourites in the competition. While most of the top wrestlers like Helen Maroulis (USA), Odunayo Adeuoroye (NGR), Risako Kawai (JPN) and Iryna Kurachkina (BLR) already qualified, she could have an easy win to the final. However, the case might be a little different for Sonam.

Competing in 62kg, Sonam, has made a name for herself in the national circuit by beating 2016 Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik. She has to prove her mettle in the international arena. A total of nine wrestlers including Sonam will contest for two spots. Her biggest competition  would be two time Asian medallists Nabira Esenbaeva (UZB) and Ayaulym Kassymova (KAZ).

“She (Sonam) has shown that she is ready for the senior circuit. Look what she has done. People had said that she is still at the cadet level but the consistent victories against Sakshi has boosted her confidence,” Sonam’s personal coach Ajmer Malik told PTI.

“She does not lose confidence or hope now even after conceding points. We are proud of her,” Ajmer, who runs Netaji Subash Chander Sports Institute at Village Madina in Sonepat district, said.