In a first major upset of the 18th Asian Games, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar was stunned by Adam Batirov of Bahrain in the 75kg category, as India’s wrestling campaign took a big blow in its very first bout in Jakarta on Sunday.
Still, in search of his first Asian Games gold, Sushil took a comfortable 2-0 lead in the opening stage of the bout but conceded a point after hitting Batirov on the head. The referee cautioned Sushil and awarded a point to the Bahrani. But the London Olympics silver medallist still led 2-1 at the end of the first period.
But Batirov took complete control as play resumed racing to a 3-2 lead with a takedown and a push outside the mat. Sushil who was one of India’s best bet for a wrestling medal created ample opportunities to score but failed to make most of his chances, even as the 33-year-old Bahrain wrestler increased his lead to 5-2.
Sushil fought back to snatch a point but it was not enough for him to clinch a victory knocking himself out of the competition after losing 3-5.
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It knocks him out of the contention for a gold at the Asian Games, but the 35-year-old still stands with a chance to fight for the bronze through repechage, if Adam Batirov reaches the final.
But while Sushil was knocked out, Bajrang Punia kept India’s hopes alive by routing Sirojiddin Khasanov of Uzbekistan 13-3 before being declared the winner by a technical superiority.
Khasanov led 3-0 in the first round, but Punia bounced back with six consecutive points in the second period to lead 6-3. Then in the final round, he clinched seven more successive points to increase the gap to 13-3 to be eventually declared the winner by a technical superiority.
Punia will take on Fayziev Abdulqosim of Tajikistan in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Sandeep Tomar won his 57kg freestyle category bout 12-8 against Turkmenistan’s Rstem Nazarov to move into the quarter-finals.