Indian wrestler Reetika Hooda kicked off her Paris Olympics 2024 campaign with an easy 12-2 win in the opening round of the women’s freestyle 76 kg category on Saturday. She defeated Hungary’s Bernadett Nagy, the two-time European champion with a dominant performance and will next face the world no.1 Aiperi Medet Kyzy in the quarter-final round later on Saturday.
The 22-year-old wrestler from Haryana remains India’s last realistic hope for the seventh medal at the 33rd Summer Games. Aman Sehrawat clinched the first wrestling medal in Paris after winning his bronze medal match on Friday and the fans waiting on CAS’s verdict on Vinesh Phogat’s plea for a silver medal.
Reetika, the former U23 world champion, was quick to take an early 6-2 lead and looked calm throughout her bout. The referee called off the contest 29 seconds before the end of the second round after Reetika gained a 10-point lead over the Hungarian.
However, she faces a tough challenge against Aiperi Medet Kyzy in the quarter-final round. The Kyrgyzstani star defeated China’s Juan Wang 4-1 in her first-round bout and is tipped favourite for gold in the 76kg category in Paris. Kyzy is a two-time world champion and is seeded no.1 in the Paris Games.
Meanwhile, Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are involved in the women’s individual stroke play round four on Saturday. The duo face a tough task to finish on the podium and are India’s last contenders at the Paris Olympics 2024.
More to follow…
