The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed the schedule for various categories of Wrestling to be held for the Rio Olympics 2016. The Wrestling event starts on 14 August 2016 and ends on 21 August 2016 taking place at Hall 3 of Olympic Trading Center, Barra da Tijuca. The event starts with Greco-Roman categories taking place on 14-16 August followed by Women’s Wrestling on 18 August and 19 August. The Freestyle category is scheduled on 19-21 August.
The Indian contingent will be looking to emulate its success in the past couple of Olympic Games. In Greco-Roman category, Ravinder Khatri and Hardeep will be competing in the 85kg and 98kg events respectively. Ravinder’s event is scheduled on India’s Independence Day whereas, Hardeep will compete on 16 August
In the Women’s Wrestling, India is represented by Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Babita Kumari. Sakshi, who booked her quota in the last qualifying event in Istanbul will be competing in the 58kg category on 17 August. Vinesh, who is the cousin of wrestler Geetha Phogat, will represent the nation on the same day in the 48kg category. Babita Kumari, who qualified for her quota after her opponent Sumiya Erdenechimeg was disqualified for testing positive in the drug test, will be trying her mettle in the 53kg category on 18 August.
In the hugely anticipated Freestyle category, Sandeep Tomar, Narsingh Yadav(likely) and Yogeshwar Dutt will be carrying the nation’s hopes on their shoulders. Sandeep will be competing in the 57kg category on 19 August. Narsingh Yadav, who qualified in the 74kg category last year at the World wrestling championship in Las Vegas, is likely to make his cut on the same day. Yogeshwar, the bronze medallist in the 60kg freestyle category in London Olympics, will be competing in the 65kg category this time on 21 August, the last day of the Olympics.
With the Wrestling event vetoed out from 2020 Olympics programme, Indian wrestlers need to bow out of the Rio Olympics in style.
Date | Weight Category |
14 August 2016 | Greco-Roman 59kg, 74kg |
15 August 2016 | Greco-Roman 85kg, 130kg |
16 August 2016 | Greco-Roman 66kg, 98kg |
17 August 2016 | Women’s Wrestling 48kg, 58kg, 69kg |
18 August 2016 | Women’s Wrestling 63kg, 75kg, 53kg |
19 August 2016 | Freestyle 57kg, 74kg |
20 August 2016 | Freestyle 86kg, 125kg |
21 August 2016 | Freestyle 65kg, 97kg |
