Paris Olympics | Reetika Hooda shows promise before quarterfinal exit

PTI, Aug 11, 2024, 9:35 AM IST

Paris: Indian wrestler Reetika Hooda on Saturday bowed out of the Paris Olympics after impressing in her narrow quarterfinal defeat at the hands of top seed Aiperi Medet Kyzy in the women’s 76kg event here.

The repechage route for Reetika was closed by American Kennedy Blades, who defeated the Kyrgyzstan wrestler Aiperi 8-6 in an energy-sapping semifinal.

Reetika’s defeat means India’s campaign at the Games ended with six medals – one short of its tally at the Tokyo edition.

Up against the Asian Games champion and World Championship silver medallist, Reetika managed to restrict her formidable rival to standing wrestling but eventually lost the bout on criteria after it ended 1-1.

If the two wrestlers end with the same score, the one who scores the last point is declared winner.

In the morning session, Reetika displayed power and skill in equal measure while outclassing Bernadett Nagy of Hungary to enter the quarter-finals, which she won by technical superiority. She needed only 29 seconds to gain a decisive 10-point lead over the Hungarian, winning 12-2.

It was the first time that India had an entry at the Olympics in the women’s 76kg division.

The 21-year old Reetika had become India’s female U23 world champion last year.

A little more experience of battling quality senior wrestlers would have helped her get an upset win.

“You can’t win bouts by just defence,” India coach Virender Dahiya fumed.

“Yes, she fought well but what’s the point if your strong defence does not get you win. Reetika did not let her attack but she herself did not attack. You lose by one point, or 10 points, you lose. Reetika could have won this bout,” he said.

The Kyrgyzstan wrestler began on an aggressive note with a double leg attack but Reetika, using her immense upper body power, held her ground. Had it not been for a strong defence, Reetika could have been flipped by Aiperi for a takedown.

Reetika got the first point on Aiperi’s passivity in the first period but she was also put on the clock in the second period and lost the lead for lack of attacking move.

The Kyrgyz wrestler got hold of Reetika’s right leg but the Indian again did well and wriggled out of her rival’s grip. After getting the equaliser, Aiperi just needed to defend and she did that by using all her experience, keeping Reetika in a head-lock position.

Antim Panghal (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Nisha Dahiya (68kg) exited the competition earlier.

Vinesh Phogat is awaiting a verdict on her appeal against her disqualification from the women’s 50kg final for being overweight by 100gm. The verdict will be announced on August 13. Aman Sehrawat won a bronze in men’s 57kg weight-class on Friday.