Nisha Dahiya has become the fifth Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She achieved this by winning the 68kg semifinals against Romania's Alexandra Anghel at the World Olympic Qualifiers on Friday.
India will now have five female wrestlers competing for the first time at the Olympics.
Interestingly, this achievement came a day after all six Greco-Roman wrestlers had a disappointing performance.
Nisha, who won a bronze medal at the World U-23 and a silver medal at the Asian Championships last year, secured her place in the final by beating Anghel 8-4 on points. This victory earned India another Olympic quota.
Four Indian women wrestlers have already secured berths for the Paris Olympics. Antim Panghal earned an Olympic quota in the 53kg category with a bronze medal at the World Championships last year. Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), and Reetika Hooda (76kg) secured spots for India at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in March.
India's Greco-Roman grapplers failed to impress on Thursday, the opening day of the Qualifiers here, losing in the preliminary rounds in all six weight categories.
Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Nitesh (97kg) and Naveen (130kg) had all lost their bouts.
Indian men's freestyle grapplers hope to offset the below-par showing of their Greco-roman compatriots when they step on the mat on Saturday.
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