New Delhi: Sumit Malik became the fourth Indian men’s freestyle wrestler to qualify for the Tokyo Games when he reached the 125kg summit clash at the World Olympic Qualifiers, in Sofia. Sumit joined Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) in India’s men’s freestyle squad bound for the Tokyo Olympics.
It is the first time that 28-year-old Malik, who is a 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, has made the cut for the Olympics. The finalists at this competition will qualify for Tokyo Games.
Malik beat Jose Daniel Diaz of Venezuela 5-0 to set up the title clash with Russia’s Sergei Kozyrev.
Finalists in each of the weight categories in this tournament are eligible to win a quota place for the Tokyo Olympics.
In his first qualification round, Malik beat Aiaal Lazarev of Kyrgyzstan 2-2 while in his second round he defeated Alexandr Romanov of Moldovan 2-2. In the quarterfinals, he outclassed Rustam Iskandari of Tajikistan 19-5.
Malik is the fourth Indian freestyle wrestler to have won the Olympic quota place in the men’s category.
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