Bengaluru, August 24: India's biggest medal hopes Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik bowed out in the earlier rounds of the World Wrestling championship in Paris on Thursday (August 24).
The 22-year-old Phogat started strongly in the 48 kg category winning her qualification bout over Ukraine's Oksana Livach 13-2 to advance to the prequarterfinals.
Phogat raced away to a 4-0 lead. However, American Victoria Lacey Anthony surprised the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist to win the match 6-4.
In the 60 kg category, Malik, the 2016 Rio Olympics' bronze medallist, was defeated by German Luisa Niemesch 3-2 the pre-quarter-finals.
Malik has to wait to find out if she can progress through to the repechage rounds. If Niemesch reaches the final, Malik will take her place in the repechage.
However, Sheetal Tomar reached the quarterfinal with a win over Jessica Schrader Lavers McBain of Australia. In the 69 kg category, Navjot Kaur lost to Nasanburmaa Ochirbat from Mongolia in the round of 16.