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Olympics: Wrestler Ravi Dahiya storms into final of 57kg category

Dahiya came back from 2-9 down in the match against Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev

OLYMPICS-2020-WRE/M-FS57KG-SFNL-000100 Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan reacts after losing against Ravi Kumar (right) | Reuters

Ravi Dahiya stormed into the final of the 57 kg freestyle wrestling category after defeating Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev on Wednesday. The fourth seeded Indian was trailing 2-9 when Sanayev effected a few 'fitley' (leg lace) moves to pull ahead but as the clocked ticked away, Dahiya regrouped and got hold of his rival with a double leg attack that resulted in a victory by fall.

He became the first Indian wrestler to enter finals since Sushil Kumar in 2012. Sushil Kumar had settled for a silver then. 

With Dahiya entering the final, India is assured of at least a silver medal in the category. The final will be held on Thursday. 

Sanayev is a two-time World Championships medalist.  

Earlier in the day, Dahiya was at his usual dominant self as he outclassed Colombia's Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4) to set up the clash with Sanayev. The 23-year remained dominant against Urbano apart from conceding a take-down in the first period.

So far, India has won three medals—all by female players. The country, ranked 62nd, has a silver and two bronze medals in its kitty. 

KD Jadhav had become India's first wrestler—and the first individual Olympic medallist—to win a bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

After that, Sushil enhanced wrestling's profile by winning a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games and bettered the colour of the medal by claiming a historic silver in 2012 London Olympics. Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze in that Games.

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