Xtra Time Web Desk: It is turning out to be one of the best Olympics for India after London 2012. After boxer Mirabai Chanu won silver on Day 1 at Tokyo Olympics, wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya guaranteed India at least a silver medal in the men’s freestyle wrestling 57kg category by beating Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev on Wednesday. Ravi Kumar Dahiya staged a great comeback against Sanayev to make his way to the final.
The bout started in a cagey fashion with both wrestlers registering points in the initial minutes of the first round. But Sanayev almost won the match as he registered 8 points in a row by pulling off the dreaded ‘fitele’ move. Sanayez grabbed Ravi by the ankles and rolled the Indian wrestler four times, which gave him the 8 points to take the advantage to 9-2.
But Ravi Kumar staged a brilliant comeback as he first reduced the deficit to 5-9, as he pushed the Kazakh out of the mat leading to Sanayev getting injured. Taking psychological advantage, Ravi Kumar brought the Kazakh wrestler down with a great move to eventually win the bout ‘by fall’.