Presidents’ cup to be held at Astana, Kazakhstan, from Thursday the 23 July 2015, is seen as an excellent opportunity for Indian women wrestlers to get international exposure. This being the first qualifying tournament, the wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has a taken right step to ensure more women wrestlers get qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016.
Indian wrestling team includes 8 women with national repute. While Ms. Nikki represent the highest weight category of 75 Kg, Navajot Kaur (69 Kg), Anita (63 Kg), Sarita (60 Kg), Sakshi Malik (55Kg) Lalita (58 Kg), Nirmal Devi ( 53 Kg) and Vinesh (48 Kg) will take up the Indian challenge in their respective categories. Vinesh created a history by winning Gold medal in recently concluded Commonwealth games in 2014 and won the silver in Asian Championship in 2015. Geeta Phogat had won all her bouts against the opponents from Japan, Canada, Mongolia and Belarus in her first appearance in the World Cup in 2013.
Sakshi Malik represented India in the women freestyle 58 KG in 2014 commonwealth games in which she won the silver medal. Navajot Kaur represented India in the 67 KG at 2014 commonwealth games in which she won the bronze medal. Anita Tomar represented India in 67 KG at 2010 commonwealth games and won gold medal. Nirmala Devi represented India in 48 KG at the 2010 commonwealth games and won silver medal in that event.
I am sure that these wrestlers will leave no stone unturned to make the country proud. The Indian wrestling lovers would be keen for event in preparation to Rio Olympics.