Wrestling Trials For Olympic Qualifiers: Sonam Malik Injured During Her Opening Bout; Jeopardises Her Paris Ambitions

Sonam Malik's campaign for Olympic 2024 may have ended before it could take off as thel two-time U-23 World Champion wad injured during her opening bout of the Wrestling trials for the Olympic qualifiers in Patiala on Monday (March 11).

Sonam Malik, who is among the brightest of Indian women's wrestling talents, was leading her 62kg category bout against Monika while a visible discomfort on her right calf aggravated.

The bout never resumed from that point on as the 21-year-old wrestler struggled in pain. The medical staff present at the venue came to her assistance soon but the injury seemed serious as Sonam was soon stretchered off to an ambulance.

Sonam Malik's father Ajmer Malik told myKhel that she came for trials with an existing knee injury and took a painkiller before the bout but the injury aggravated early. The duo is on their way back to the village in Sonipat after a medical checkup and have submitted the medical report to the officials before leaving.

Sonam's chances to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024 is now hanging in the balance because during the men's trials earlier only the top four wrestlers from each category were selected for the national camps.

While the winner of the trials will fight for the Olympic quota spot at the Asian and World Olympic Qualifiers, the remaining three may get a chance to challenge the quota holder before the Olympics in the final trials.

However, there's unclarity if these rules will stick once or if the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) takes charge from IOA's ad-hoc committee. WFI is currently suspended by Sports Ministry but are likely to get that lifted soon while the world wrestling body (UWW) has backed WFI to take charge of the sport in India.

Sonam's father said they will appeal for clemency on the matter on medical grounds if his daughter is not provided an opportunity to compete in the final trials for the Olympics.