Poland Open Wrestling 2021 Ranking Series Day 4 Preview: While it will just be the fourth day in Poland Open Ranking Series, it will certainly be the last for India’s campaign in Warsaw. India had fielded four wrestlers out of which Deepak Punia (injured) and Ravi Dahiya’s (silver medal) events are over. The focus now shifts to women wrestling where Vinesh Phogat and Anshu Malik will test their skills in 53kg and 57kg respectively.
Poland Open Wrestling 2021 Ranking Series Day 4 Preview: Vinesh Phogat to headline 53 kg
With heavyweights like Sofia Mattson (SWE), Mayu Mukaida (JAP), and Jacarra Winchester (USA), missing Vinesh will headline the 12-woman bracket. The Indian wrestler has been training in Hungary for the past couple of weeks and joined the squad on June 9. Her coach Woller Akos says it will be a chance for them to assess themselves and accordingly devise a training plan in weeks to come. The 27-year-old will face a stiff challenge from European medalists Annika Wendle (GER), Roksana Marta Zasina (POL), world medalist Ekaterina Poleshchuk (RUS).
Entries in 53kg: Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN), Joseph Emilienne ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR), Annika WENDLE (GER), Vinesh VINESH (IND), Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL), Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL), Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), Esra PUL (TUR), Ronna Marie HEATON (USA), Amy Ann FEARNSIDE (USA),
Poland Open Wrestling 2021 Ranking Series Day 4 Preview: Anshu will be a dark horse in 57 kg
While Vinesh will be the favourite in 53kg, young Anshu will have to work hard to grab a medal finish in 57 kg. The loaded 17-woman bracket will be headlined by Olympic champion Helen Maroulis (USA). In total, the weight will feature two Olympic medalists, five world medal winners, and seven continental champions.
Anshu will enter the competition as a dark horse, given her performance at the senior level. The 19-year-old has been a revelation for India, which struggled to find a strong contender in the weight class for long. There were world medalist Pooja Dhanda and Asian champion Sarita Mor but they lacked consistency. But Anshu has filed up that void. Fast-tracked into the senior side, courtesy of his commendable performances at the cadet level, Anshu impressed everyone when she beat the world champion, Linda Morais, in her maiden competition. Since then there has been no stepping back.
However, the Poland Open will be her fully loaded competition. Besides Maroulis, there is Olympic silver medalist Valeria Koblova (RUS), world medalist Odunayo Adekuroye (NGR), and Iryna Kurachkina (BLR), who will be a big challenge. It will be a good test of skills for the Indian wrestler and check her readiness for Tokyo Olympics.
Entries in 57kg: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Mathilde Hélène RIVIERE (FRA), Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER), Fatoumata Yarie CAMARA (GUI), Anshu ANSHU (IND), Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR), Patrycja GIL (POL), Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL), Magdalena Urszula GLODEK (POL), Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS), Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS), Mehlika OZTURK (TUR), Eda TEKIN (TUR), Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR), Tetyana KIT (UKR), Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA).
You can watch live streaming on WrestlingTV.in.