Ravi Dahiya assured India of at least a silver medal in wrestling when he booked his place in the final of men’s freestyle 57 kg at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.

The 23-year-old wrestler was trailing Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan 7-9 in the semifinal when he pinned his opponent to be declared winner by fall.

In the final, scheduled for today (Aug. 5), Dahiya will face two-time World Champion Zaur Uguev of ROC.

On the other hand, another Indian wrestler Deepak Punia will fight for bronze medal today after he was outclassed by formidable American David Morris Taylor in the 86kg semifinals of the Olympic Games yesterday.

It was always going to be a herculean task for Deepak to trouble the American, the 2018 world champion and the reigning Pan-American champion. It was hardly a contest as Taylor effected

one move after another to win by technical superiority in the first period itself. Deepak could make only one move on counter attack but the American did not give the Indian any chance to convert that into points.

Dahiya overcomes mid-fight bite to win semi-final

Olympic viewers were left in shock after Kazakhstan wrestler Nurislam Sanayev was seen biting India’s Ravi Dahiya during his semi-final loss at the Tokyo Olympics.

Bite marks were visible on the right bicep of India’s Dahiya, with an investigation launched and Sanayev facing the possibility of disciplinary action.

“It was painful when Ravi returned from the mat but he was given an ice-pack and he is fine. The pain has subsided. He is fit for the final, no problem at all,” a member of the Indian wrestling team’s support staff told.