Olympic bronze medallist, Sakshi Malik has cemented her place in the Indian wrestling team for 2018 Commonwealth Games. The 25-year-old qualified for the 62kg weight category. Apart from Sakshi, 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, Babita Kumari Phogat was also selected to represent the country in the 54kg weight category. Unfortunately, grappler Geeta Phogat failed to pass the selection process, which was held in six weight categories at the Sports Authority of India Training Center in Lucknow. The selection trial was held for participation in 2018 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship, Kyrgyzstan and 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast, Australia.

The six-membered Indian wrestling team are - Sakshi Malik (62 kg), Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Pooja Dhanda (57Kg), Babita Kumari (54 kg), Divya Karan (68Kg) and Kiran (76Kg). These six freestyle wrestlers have qualified for both events taking place this year. It was disappointing to see Geeta, country’s first female wrestler to win India the gold medal in wrestling fail to qualify for the two tournaments. The 29-year-old lost to Pooja Dhanda in the trials for the 57-kg

division.

Commonwealth Games 2018 is the 21st edition of the multi-sport event. It will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from April 4, until 15, 2018. This is the fifth time Australia is hosting the Commonwealth Games. Wrestling is an important event from India’s point of view. Indian grapplers have been successful in bringing medals for the country in previous games.

In 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, India had won a total of 13 medals including five golds, six silvers and two bronzes. Vinesh Phogat and Babita Kumari had won gold medals in 48 kg and 55 kg weight categories respectively. Rio medallist Sakshi Malik had bagged a silver medal in 58 kg category. Other previous edition’s winners Lalita Lalita, Geetika Jakhar and Navjot Kaur are not a part of the 2018 team. However, all eyes will be on the selected Indian wrestling team with strong and determined women of a good show at the coming Commonwealth Games.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 01, 2018 04:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).