Kolkata: The double-digit medal tally is now out of bounds for India, but there is a realistic chance of them overhauling their best-ever haul of six medals in an Olympic Games on the last day competition in Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
They now stand at five - one shy of their collection in London 2012 - but it may look healthier with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra due to contest his final, golfer Aditi Ashok going into the final round tied second and fancied wrestler Bajranj Punia to fight his bronze play-off.
Punia, the 65kg freestyle grappler who came into the Games with a favourite status, raised hopes of confirming a medal on Friday itself when he started with a slim win against Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan and then pinned Iran’s Morteza Ghiasi in the quarter finals. A win in the semis would have ensured at least a silver for him, but the Indian caved in against Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev in the semi-finals on Friday.
Bajrang lost 5-12 in a bout which Aliyev dictating the pace as the latter led 4-1 after the first period. In the second period, the Azerbaijan wrestler got hold of Bajrang’s legs and went on a point-scoring spree to lead 8-1. The world championship winner from India scored four points later in the bout but Aliyev again extended his lead by seven points and eventually won the bout to seal a berth in the gold medal match. Punia will now face the winner of the repechage round bout between Senegal’s Adama Diatta and Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov for a shot at the medal.
Disappointing day
It was a disappointing day for Indian wrestlers as both Bajrang and Olympic debutant Seema Bisla failed to make it to the gold medal bout. Seema had lost her opening bout to Sarra Hamdi and soon out of reckoning for a centry into repechage as Hamdi lost her quarterfinal bout.
Seema Bisla could not find a way to get out of the defensive trap of Tunisia’s Sarra Hamdi and lost her 50kg opening round 1-3. The 27-year-old could not make her moves as Hamdi applied the body lock to great effect, never allowing Seema to initiate a strong attack.
Bajrang did not have a perfect build-up for the mega event as he struggled for a proper sparring partner in the country during the lockdown. Later, he went to Europe to prepare for the Games, but his progress was also hampered by an injury to his right knee which was heavily strapped on Friday.
India’s best-ever haul in the wrestling arena had been also in 2012 when Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt had won a silver and a bronze, respectively. It will be henced left to Punia to match the tally as Ravi Dahiya has already opened an account for them with a silver medal in the 57 kg class on Thursday.
