Wrestler Sandeep Tomar secured an Olympic quota place for India in the men’s 57 kg freestyle category with a bronze-medal finish on the final day of the first World Olympic Qualifying tournament in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. The 25-year-old Sandeep became the fourth Indian wrestler after Yogeshwar Dutt (men’s 65 kg freestyle), Narsingh Yadav (men’s 74 kg freestyle), and Hardeep Singh (Greco-Roman 98 kg) to book a berth for the Rio Games, to be held later this year.
Tomar won gold medals at the 2016 Asian Wrestling Championships and the 2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship. India have already secured Olympics spots in 65 kg and 67 kg Freestyle events, and 98 kg in Greco-Roman.
Narsingh Pancham Yadav, who won India’s sole medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, book himself a ticket to Rio in the 67 kg, but the spot is currently in contention with Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar also vying for that same berth.
At the 2016 Asian Qualification Tournament in March, Yogeshwar Dutt — in the 65 kg category, and Hardeep Singh — in the 98 kg in Greco-Roman, have booked their respective places.