Olympics 2020: Ravi Dahiya in wrestling final, India assured of gold or silver

Ravi Dahiya stormed into the final of the 57 kg freestyle wrestling category after defeating Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev on Wednesday. The fourth seeded Indian was trailing 2-9 when Sanayev effected a few 'fitley' (leg lace) moves to pull ahead but as the clocked ticked away, Dahiya regrouped and got hold of his rival with a double leg attack that resulted in a victory by fall.

He became the first Indian wrestler to enter finals since Sushil Kumar in 2012. Sushil Kumar had settled for a silver then. With Dahiya entering the final, India is assured of at least a silver medal in the category. The final will be held on Thursday. Sanayev is a two-time World Championships medalist.

Earlier in the day, Dahiya was at his usual dominant self as he outclassed Colombia's Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria's Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4) to set up the clash with Sanayev. The 23-year remained dominant against Urbano apart from conceding a take-down in the first period.

So far, India has won three medals—all by female players. The country, ranked 62nd, has a silver and two bronze medals in its kitty. KD Jadhav had become India's first wrestler—and the first individual Olympic medallist—to win a bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games. After that, Sushil enhanced wrestling's profile by winning a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games and bettered the colour of the medal by claiming a historic silver in 2012 London Olympics. In the same 2012 London Games, Yohesgwar Dutt won a bronze.