Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Ravi Dahiya pulls off a stunning comeback to storm into final

Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Ravi Dahiya pulls off a stunning comeback to storm into final

Ravi Dahiya

India’s Ravi Dahiya has stormed into the final of 57kg freestyle wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics. Ravi defeated Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev with a fall in the dying moments of the game. The Indian grappler was down and out early in the second period as the Kazakh wrestler rushed to a seven-point lead.

Ravi was the first to concede a point after he was put on the clock for passivity. He then came back within half a minute to score two moments and take the lead going into the second quarter. Early in the second quarter, the Indian grappler found himself in a tough spot trying to defend a single-leg attack.

Ravi Dahiya’s incredible comeback

Ravi Dahiya
Ravi Dahiya

As Ravi tried to reverse it, Sanayev seized the opportunity to get behind the Indian and get a double ankle grip. The Kazakh managed four turns in the position scoring eight crucial points. At a point, it seemed like the Indian would lose the bout on technical superiority.

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When many would have had given up, Ravi fought back with all his might. 9-2 down, the Indian grappler chipped back with a couple of push-out points. It was then that he went for the left leg of Sanayev, taking him down. Having pulled back five points, Ravi went for the fall and pulled it off flawlessly to seize the semifinal.

Ravi will now face Russia’s Artur Naifonov in the final on Wednesday. It is all set to be a continental champions showdown in the final as Ravi Dahiya will go for gold on his maiden Olympic final.

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