The selection trials for Olympic qualifiers in Patiala were anticipated to be all about Vinesh Phogat, who participated in two weight categories (50kg and 53kg) to keep her Paris chase on track. That means Anshu Malik’s overwhelming win over the experienced Sarita Mor in the 57kg division went unnoticed. Nonetheless, Malik’s win was her second in as many months, following her victory in the 59kg category at the senior national championships in Jaipur last month. Malik defeated the former world no.1 Mor 8-3, just as she had done in Patiala.
Thumping domestic wrestlers may not appear a big deal, but the 2021 Oslo World Championships silver medalist is making a comeback from a series of ailments. She had surgery on her left elbow for a ligament injury following the 2022 Commonwealth Games and suffered a Grade II ligament tear in her left knee last year. She has now set her sights on Paris, and winning the selection trial is the first big step towards that goal.
The 22-year-old freestyle wrestler’s preparation was on display in Patiala where she turned a 2-2 deadlock in the summit clash, with 25 seconds left, claiming a 6-3 win. With Paris on the horizon, I am taking every bout as a must-win outing. There is no room for errors anymore. It got a bit tight in the end and with the clock running out, I was a little nervous. But I was determined to win, Malik said.
Playing down the brewing rivalry, Malik said, Sarita is a very fine and accomplished wrestler. She is a World Championships medalist which is not a joke. Irrespective of the opponent, my goal is to dominate. It’s just happened. The body reacted instinctively, she would remark, although the origins of that maneuver were roughly 6000 kilometers away, in the wrestling hall of Nippon Sports Science University in Yokohama, Japan. Sparring alongside Kaori Icho, Yui Sasaki, and Akari Fujinami at the invitation-only facility, a long stay exposed Malik to moves and mindsets she never knew existed.
The first thing that struck me was their humility. They were so warm and giving, it was as if they genuinely wanted me to learn, Malik said of her illustrious sparring partners. Icho, the 39-year-old legend, is the first female in any sport to win individual-event gold medals at four consecutive Olympics (2004-16). She is also a 10-time world champion. Susaki is the four-time world champion (50kg) while the two-time defending world champion Fujinami (53kg) has been unbeaten since 2017.
