Sakshi Malik Fails, Sonam Malik, Anshu Malik Qualify For Tokyo Games

Sonam Malik Anshu Malik qualify for Tokyo Games: Wrestlers Sonam Malik (women’s 62kg) and Anshu Malik (women’s 57kg) have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 57kg category on Saturday.

Till now, star wrestler Vinesh Phogat (women’s 53kg) was the only Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

Haryana wrestlers Anshu, 19, and Sonam, 18, won their respective bouts in the semifinals of the Asian Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers at Almaty in Kazakhstan on Saturday.

India now has three women wrestling it out at the Summer Games, scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 this year. Vinesh had qualified through the 2019 World Championship.

Sonam Malik Anshu Malik qualify for Tokyo Games:

Anshu Malik made the cut after defeating Uzbekistan's Shokhida Akhmedova by technical superiority of 12-2 in the semifinals in Kazakhstan. In the 57kg final, the 19-year-old will face Mongolia’s Khongorzul Boldsaikhan. "Many congratulations to 19-year-old #AnshuMalik who has won a #Tokyo2020 quota in women's 57 kg after a dominant display to reach the final of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. She will play for gold later today. #RoadToTokyo," SAIMedia tweeted.

Many congratulations to 19 year-old #AnshuMalik who has won a #Tokyo2020 quota in women’s 57 kg after a dominant display to reach the final of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. She will play for gold later today.#RoadToTokyo pic.twitter.com/uIzK6vzNSH

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) April 10, 2021

Sonam, on the other hand, managed to fight off Kazakhstan's Ayaulym Kassymova 9-6 in her semifinal match. In the 62kg final, the 18-year-old will face China’s Jia Long. SAIMedia tweeted: "Sonam wins Olympic quota! #SonamMalik makes a remarkable comeback from 0-6 down to beat home favourite Ayaulym Kassymova of Kazakhstan 9-6 to win a #Tokyo2020 in women's 62 kg wrestling at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. She becomes the 3rd Indian female & 6th Wrestler to win quota."

Sonam wins Olympic quota!#SonamMalik makes a remarkable comeback from 0-6 down to beat home favourite Ayaulym Kassymova of Kazakhstan 9-6 to win a #Tokyo2020 in women’s 62 kg wrestling at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. She becomes the 3rd Indian female & 6th Wrestler to win quota pic.twitter.com/FAKkHaDNXV

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) April 10, 2021

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju also took to Twitter and wrote, "Congratulations to our women wrestlers, Sonam Malik and Anshu Malik for winning a quota each in #Tokyo2020. Both have shown remarkable performances in the qualifying matches. I wish them the very best in representing India."

Congratulations to our women wrestlers, Sonam Malik and Anshu Malik for winning a quota each in #Tokyo2020. Both have shown remarkable performances in the qualifying matches. I wish them the very best in representing India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/i8hssmMRVb

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 10, 2021

Last year, Anshu won a silver medal at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade and also claimed the bronze medal at the Asian Championships in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, as Sonam secured the quota, she has now shut the door on Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik. She defeated Sakshi four times in recent trials, making the 62kg category her own. She is a two-time – 2017 and 2019 –Cadet Wrestling World Champion and won a bronze in 2018. Read how Gursharan Preet Kaur made a comeback to Wrestling for her daughter