Asian Games 2023 Wrestling Trials: Ravi Dahiya knocked out by Atish Todkar; Vishal Kaliraman wins 65kg trials

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Olympic silver medallist Ravi Dahiya was knocked out of the Asian Games 2023 wrestling trials by unheralded Atish Todkar at the IG Stadium in New Delhi. The Maharashtra wrestler stunned Ravi Dahiya in a win 'by fall' in the men's freestyle 57kg category.

Dahiya, who was competing first time this season after suffering serious injuries on his right knee, would not have expected such resistance from Todkar, who broke the rival's tough defensive game. Atish Todkar picked points with some splendid and breathtaking moves and forced Dahiya into a rare 'pin'.

Todkar was leading 20-8 at the time when he had Dahiya's shoulders on the mat. Todkar consistently dodged Ravi by moving swiftly from under his arms to move back for take-down moves. Atish Todkar, however, couldn't make it to the Asian Games 2023 either as he lost to Rahul in the semifinals. Aman Sehrawat eventually made the cut for the tournament as he defeated Rahul in the final bout.

Dahiya earlier suffered an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) injuries in his right knee. Ravi Dahiya was in fine form prior to his injury as the wrestler won the Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships titles last year while winning the Yasar Dogu Tournament as well.

Given his stronghold in Asia with back-to-back championship titles, Ravi Dahiya was seen as the favourite for the gold medal at the Asian Games 2023. However, his form today suggested that the wrestler was far from his best and losing the bout to Atish Todkar was a fair result.

Vishal Kaliraman wins 65kg trials

His right eye swollen due to a blow he took in his opening bout, Vishal Kaliraman won the 65kg trials and vowed to earn his right to be India's representative in this category, in which Bajrang Punia has already been given a direct entry.

In the same category, Sujeet, who lost his petition in the High Court against the exemption given to Bajrang, faded in the quarterfinals against experienced Rohit. Vishal and Rohit clashed in the final in which the Hisar wrestler erased a 1-4 deficit to win 9-3.

"I just wanted to win the trial today. Even if Bajrang was here today, I would have won, I was determined to win. We respect him for his achievements but what they are doing may destroy the careers of junior players," Kaliraman, 25, said after his win.

He was not willing to accept that he will just be a stand-by in 65kg after winning the trials. "We will fight this, if we have to go to Supreme Court, we will go. We have been training for 15 years now. They just can't give him entry like that," he added.

Kaliraman's parents had held a demonstration in Hisar and also outside the Olympic Bhawan to get the exemption decision reversed.

"We had supported Bajrang and Vinesh in their protest. They had said the protest is for juniors and now they are hurting the juniors. They are cheating us. We will fight against this injustice," his father Subhash Chander told PTI.

OTHER WINNERS

From among the established names, Olympian and 2019 World Championship silver medallist Deepak Punia edged Jonty Bhati in a very close final to seal his place in the Indian team in the 86kg category.

In the 125kg, Sumit Malik, who successfully fought off a doping ban, sealed his place in the Indian team while Vicky (97kg) and Yash (74kg) emerged winners in their respective categories.

With inputs from PTI