Bajrang, Sushil ready to rumble as India eye gold rush

JAKARTA: Twelve international medals, including five gold in six years by Bajrang Punia has everyone hedging their bet on the wrestler to bring home India’s first gold from Jakarta, despite the presence of the talismanic Sushil Kumar in their ranks, as the two start favourites on the mat on Sunday.

A protege of Olympic bronzemedallist Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang has been enjoying success ever since he grabbed his maiden medal, a bronze at the 2013 Asian Championship in New Delhi, but a gold at the Asian Games is still missing. Bajrang’s silver at the Incheon Asian Games in 2014 has been a great motivator and his gold medals at the Tbilisi Grand Prix and Yasar Dogu International in the recent past have helped the 24-year-old warm up for a top finish here.

Though Bajrang made a disappointing start to the year at the Asian Championships, February brought good rewards. He started winning medals one after the other and they seem to have acted as a confidence booster for the 65kg category wrestler.

Japan’s Daichi Takatani, who defeated Bajrang in the quarterfinal of the Asian Championship, would be the biggest hurdle. Bajrang’s mastery over the gutwrench technique, especially while attacking the legs, makes him a strong contender.

Sushil’s presence in the Games Village has added to the squad’s confidence. His Asian Games preparations were dealt a severe blow when he lost to a Polish wrestler in the first round of the Tbilisi Grand Prix.

Sushil’s reflexes may have slowed down considerably and injuries in the last four years may have had a negative impact on him, but the country’s most famous wrestler isn’t willing to give up. He won gold at the Gold Coast to complete a hat-trick of gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, but the field here is quite strong.

Wrestlers like Mongolian Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran and Muslim Evloev of Kyrgyzstan post the biggest challenge. His showing at the Jakarta Games would be a good indicator of his prowess before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Vinesh Phogat, who also won gold at the Gold Coast Games, too is expecting a podium finish. Bronze medallist at the 2014 Asian Games, Phogat faces strong challenges from China’s Sun Yanan and Yuki Irei of Japan in the 50kg category.

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik is another medal prospect. Known for her doubleleg attacks, Sakshi will face her biggest hurdle in Purevdorjiin Orkhon of Mongolia, the reigning world champion in 62kg.

With 11 international medals under her belt, including two gold, Sakshi would be gunning for her maiden Asian Games medal.