Narsingh Yadav – 74 kg
Probably the most talked about Indian wrestler from September 2015, initially for his World Cup bronze and later due to the stormy court battles with Sushil Kumar.
Ever since London 2012, Yadav has been the man who has represented India in all the difficult tournaments.
Asian games 2014 bronze, World Championships 2015 bronze, nearly won the bronze at 2013 World Championships as well and to top it all off unbeaten at the Pro-Wrestling league.
Just going back further he was Delhi Commonwealth Games champion and Asian champion both in 2010.
If he has not won more it is because he has not been sent to any other tournament. At least a top 6 finish in tournaments across 6 years. Does one need to verify his credentials?
The redoubtable American Jordan Burroughs is faster than anybody, but nobody can match Narsingh for his upper body strength. If you don’t believe me then you can ask 2014 World Champion Zalimkhan Khadjiev who did not realize what hit him that bronze medal match at the Las Vegas Worlds
What also goes in favor of Narsingh’s medal prospects is his wins over Livan Lopez, Zelimkhan Khadjiev, Soner Demirtas in the 2015 World Championships, the Mongol Purevjyvan Onorbat in the Pro-wrestling league and Jibrayil Hasanov in 2013 worlds.
Burroughs and the Russian Aniuar Geduev form big hurdles for Narsingh but expect a medal from the Indian.
Men’s Freestyle – 57kg
Think of Sandeep Tomar and two words spring up in my mind – fearless and extremely agile.
So impressive in this year’s Asian Championships which he won quite easily and more so at the World Olympic qualifiers where he won bronze. Point to note is that these were his first two senior international tournaments.
Babita Phogat and Sakshi Malik the other two lady freestyle wrestlers are quality wrestlers in their own right.
However, their chances of clinching a medal are quite stacked taking into factor the quality of wrestlers in their respective weight categories. Just too many of them are streets ahead of these two Indians. No disrespect to the abilities of these Babita and Sakshi.
But there is no doubt that the Indian Freestyle Wrestling squad is on the verge of creating history with 3 to 4 medals which would give a big boost to this still essentially rural Indian sport get out of the hinterlands of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and into the drawing rooms of the large Indian urban cities
