Poland Open Wrestling 2021: Ravi Dahiya settles for silver medal in Warsaw

Poland Open Wrestling 2021: Ravi Dahiya settles for silver medal in Warsaw

Ravi Dahiya

Olympics-bound wrestler Ravi Dahiya faltered in the final of the Poland Open Wrestling and had to settle for silver. Dahiya lost to Junior World medalist Uzbekistan’s Gulomjon Abdullaev in 61kg final. His shaky leg defence was the highlight of the tournament is something he needs to work one with the Summer Games approaching fast.

Throughout the tournament, the Indian’s opponents targeted his left leg. While Dahiya’s superior stamina helped him through to the finals, it was simply not enough to clinch the gold medal for the reigning Asian champion. In the one month camp in Warsaw, Ravi along with his coach Kamal Malikov and head coach Jagmender will need to work on the leg defence.

Ravi Dahiya’s stamina helps him through to the final

Ravi Dahiya
Ravi Dahiya

Ravi began his campaign with an easy 10-1 win against Uzbekistan’s Gulomjon Abdullaev but struggled against Kazakhstan’s Adlan Askarov before prevailing 13-8. His second-round duel against Askarov was the most challenging one for him of the campaign. At one point, he was trailing 0-8 before turned the game around with his tremendous stamina as he evaded a humiliating loss by technical superiority.

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He sealed his spot in the semifinals with a 9-5 win over American Nathan Khalid Tomasello, who usually competes in 57kg. Ravi then reached the final with a 7-4 win over Iran’s Reza Ahmadali Atrinagharchi. The story was the same in these rounds too as Ravi was lucky to get away with the game after being targeted at his leg. The leg defence will be a key factor when Ravi faces the likes of Russia’s Zaur Uguev and Nurislam Sanayev at the Tokyo Olympics.

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