As it happened: Sakshi Malik knocked out of World Wrestling Championships 2017

It's curtains for Sakshi at the World Championships as she is out of the repechage round for Bronze. Her Round of 16 opponent Niemesch has lost her match in the last eight and thus, the Indian will not make it into the repechage.

India's only hope remains in the repechage now.

This comes as a major blow to India's medal chances as both Vinesh and Sakshi have been knocked out in the pre-quarters in their categories.

HUGE, HUGE UPSET! Sakshi Malik has been knocked out. The match ended 3-2 after the Indian took a 2-0 lead. A fine performance by the German as she produced a late surge to overtake the Indian star.

She has 15 seconds to fight back but she can't!

Niemesch grabs Sakshi's left ankle and converts for a takedown! Sakshi in trouble!

OH MY GOD! TWO POINTS TO THE GERMAN!

Now, Malik has 30 seconds to score a point after being penalised for inactivity.

And Sakshi gets the point to take a 2-0 lead as the push came after 30 seconds.

She does! She pushes out Sakshi with a fine move and the referees are checking whether she had done so before the 30 second inactivity period had finished.

Niemesch is penalised again for inactivity! She has 30 seconds to get a point.

Two minutes to and still just the one point in the match!

Sakshi starts the second half with a good grab in the German's left ankle but is unable to convert into a takedown.

Both grapplers are refusing to cede any space and at the break, it's a slender lead for Sakshi.

Niemesch is penalised for passivity and it's 1-0 lead for the Indian after two minutes.

The action has started and after 30 seconds, no points to either grappler.

Bracket released for women's wrestling 60kg. #Lutte2017

LINK: https://t.co/u9MLW0aukr pic.twitter.com/EoWJB6GR3e
— World Wrestling (@wrestling) August 23, 2017

The World Wrestling Championships began with much pomp and fare in Paris earlier this Monday and today in action will be India's biggest title contender, Sakshi Malik. She takes part in the 60kg category and will begin her campaign with a Round of 16 bout. She became India's first woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal last year in Rio and she will begin her campaign against Germany's Luisa Niemesch, who recorded a 20th place finish in Rio in the 58kg category.

Sakshi won bronze in the 58kg category in Rio and has moved up a weight class to contest in the 60kg category this time around. She recently bagged a silver medal at the Asian Championships in May in the heavier category of the two, where she lost to Japan's R. Kawai in the final and will be looking to open India's account at the competition.

So far, 12 Indian grapplers have contested, but are yet to win a medal. The first two days saw the men's Greco-Roman contingent take to the mat but the results were not very encouraging as it was only Gyanendra Dahiya who came close to winning a medal via the repechage. Day 3 featured four freestyle women wrestlers in action as well but they failed to make it to the medal rounds.

Stay tuned as we bring to you the latest coverage from the action!