Two more Indian wrestlers -- Ravinder Khatri and Babita Kumari -- sealed a quota place at the Rio Olympics 2016 on Wednesday. Their opponents failed a dope test and as a result Khatri and Kumari have taken the total number of quota berths for India to eight.
Khatri was awarded a spot in the Greco-Roman 85 kg and Babita Kumari sealed a berth in 53 kg freestyle. Kenzheev Zhanarbek of Kyrgystan and Sumiya Erdenechimeg of Mongolia failed drug tests.
Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik secured spots in 48 and 58kg category respectively at the second World Olympic Qualifying tournament. Vinesh won gold and Sakshi bagged a silver medal at the event, thereby sealing Rio Olympic 2016 quota places.
This is the first time in the history of Indian wrestling that two women wrestlers from India have made it to the Olympic Games.
This is also the first time that India will be participating in all three formats of wrestling at the Rio Olympics 2016 – men's freestyle, female wrestling and Greco-Roman.
Sushil Kumar and Narsingh Yadav may have to undergo a trial in order to select the best among the two for the Rio Games. The Wrestling Federation of India are yet to take a call on he course of action.
The eight Indian wrestlers who have sealed quota berths for the upcoming Rio Olympic are: Sandeep Tomar (57kg men's freestyle), Yogeshwar Dutt (65kg freestyle), Narsingh Yadav (74kg freestyle), Vinesh Phogat (48kg women's), Babita Kumari (53kg women's), Sakshi Malik (58kg women's), Hardeep (98kg Greco-Roman) and Ravinder Khatri (85kg Greco-Roman).
