Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya eliminated from Paris Olympics qualifying tournament Wrestling News

Tokyo Olympics medalists Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya were ruled out of the Paris Olympics on Sunday after losing their respective events in trials for the upcoming international championships. Qualifying round. Punia, a well-known figure who protested against former World FI President Brigitte Bhushan Sharan Singh, lost 1-9 to Rohit Kumar in the men’s 65kg freestyle semi-finals. This was after he barely beat Lavender (3-3 on par). Had Lavender not conceded a caution point in the match, Punia would have been dropped from the opening match.

Punia left the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center here in a rage after being eliminated. National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) officials tried to collect a doping test sample from Punia, but he did not stay even after finishing third and fourth. Punia received training in Russia to prepare for the trials, which were organized by an IOA ad hoc group.

Punia, however, won a case in the Delhi High Court as he argued that the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had no jurisdiction to hold trial.

The men’s 57kg event, held in the Nordic format, has been a tough event with Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya and rising star Aman Sehrawat both in contention.

Dahiya, who returned from injury, lost to Oman 13-14 in the first game. Both of them train at the Chatasal Stadium.

In 2023, when Dahiya was not competing, Aman shot to fame by winning medals in almost every competition. Asian Games bronze medalist Aman withstood Dahiya’s push at the last moment to win the close match.

Dahiya lost to the U20 Asian champion Udit in the next game and was eliminated.

The winners of the trials will get a chance to participate in the Asian and World Olympic qualifying tournaments.

India has so far secured only one Paris Olympics berth through Antim Panjal (women’s 53kg).