Yogeshwar makes swift exit

Yogeshwar Dutt’s long journey to Rio ended in a swift defeat as India’s men wrestlers returned empty-handed after a series of lacklustre performances here.

Yogeshwar, a bronze medallist in the 60kg category at London 2012, was competing in the 65kg class here. Looking far from ready, he was handed a drubbing by Mongolia’s Ganzorig Mandakhnaran in the qualification bout at the Carioca Arena.

The 33-year-old struggled to come to grips with his opponent and his only hope was for a bronze through repechage if the Mongolian managed to move into the final.
Yogeshwar’s hopes soared when Ganzorig defeated China’s Katai Yeerlanbieke in the round of 16. But it was all over for the Indian when Russia’s Soslan Ramanov outwitted the Mongolian in the quarterfinals.

Yogeshwar made a cautious start but with little sign of aggression from the Indian, the referee penalised him for passivity.

He had to score a point within the 30-second period but failed to do so and one point went in the Mongolian’s kitty.

Yogeshwar failed to mount a serious challenge in the second round too. Ganzorig then earned two more points, bringing the Indian down on the mat once. With his rival leading 3-0, it was desperate times but the Indian veteran seemed oblivious to it as he tumbled out, raising questions about his fitness.

Sakshi Malik’s bronze in the women’s 58kg category is the only wrestling medal for India from Rio.

Her team-mate Vinesh Phogat managed to win one round before suffering a terrible knee injury to bow out in the quarterfinal while the men wrestlers could not notch even a single win.

Sandeep Tomar (freestyle), Ravinder Khatri and Hardeep Singh (Greco-Roman) suffered early defeats, and with Narsingh Yadav’s place going vacant in the 74kg class, another shot at a medal was cut down even before it could begin.