#WrestleTokyo

With Nation's Golden Dreams in Reach, India's Ravi Remains Focused

By United World Wrestling Press

CHIBA, Japan (August 5) – When Ravi KUMAR (IND) steps on the mat tonight at the Makhuari Messe in Chiba, he'll be only the second Indian wrestler to compete for an Olympic Gold. For a nation obsessed with wrestling, the drama of the golden moment, and the pressure, builds by the hour.

And yet Kumar remained unfazed and cool under pressure now as he did in battling back from a 9-2 deficit in last night's semifinal fall over Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ).

“I should not have conceded a huge lead against Sanayev,” he said. “I am not happy with it. I knew I could pull it off despite trailing. I was assured inside, but I should not have made it a close fight. I have some unfinished business”

Kumar will face rival Zaur UGUEV (ROC) in Thursday's final. The two last met in the semifinal at the 2019 World Championships, with the ROC athlete taking the victory, 6-4.

Ravi KumarRavi KUMAR (IND) reached the 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

While Kumar's dominant technical superiority wins in the first and second rounds were also impressive, it was his fall over Sanayev which will be regarded as one of the most stunning comebacks in Olympics history. The young Indian wrestler led 2-1 at the end of the break, but Sanayev answered with a takedown of his own and rolled Kumar three times in a leg lace to earn the 9-2 advantage. As the pair restarted it was Kumar who immediately scored a pair of takedowns and then quickly a fall at 5:21.

The match wasn't without an additional flare of drama. As Ravi pinned Sanayev, the Kazakhstan wrestler undertook a prohibited action. The action was brought to the attention of the Technical Delegates and after review by the referee delegates, sport director and technical delegates it was concluded that the action taken was an unintentional reaction. Based on the discussion and review of the incident no disciplinary action will be taken based on the conclusion of the incident.

As always, Kumar stayed focused on Olympic gold. "Tonight I will wrestle for gold," said Kumar. "That is my goal."

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024 by numbers: Quotas, countries, records

By Vinay Siwach

PARIS (July 5) -- The 291 wrestlers for the Paris 2024 from 63 countries have been confirmed and it is the United States sending the most wrestlers with 16. It has six spots in Freestyle, six in Women's Wrestling and four in Greco-Roman.

The U.S. is followed by Japan which managed 13 quotas for Paris Olympics with six in Women's Wrestling, four in Freestyle and three in Greco-Roman. Azerbaijan and China managed to get 12 quotas each. Azerbaijan has six in Freestyle, five in Greco-Roman and one in Women's Wrestling while China has five in Women's Wrestling, four in freestyle and three in Greco-Roman.

PARIS 2024 SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024 NEWS

Egypt, Iran and Turkiye are tied with 11 quotas each from the qualification process. Egypt has qualified all six in Greco-Roman, four in Freestyle and one in Women's Wrestling. Iran won six in Greco-Roman and five in Freestyle. Turkiye has five in women's wrestling, four in Greco-Roman and two in freestyle.

Cuba and Kyrgyzstan also touched double digits with 10 quotas. Cuba has five quotas in Greco-Roman, three in Freestyle and two in Women's Wrestling. Kyrgyzstan has four quotas in Greco-Roman and three each in women's wrestling and freestyle.

Mongolia and Ukraine earned nine spots for Paris 2024 with the former qualifying all six in Women's Wrestling and three in Freestyle. Ukraine has four in Women's Wrestling, three in Freestyle and two in Greco-Roman.

Algeria and Kazakhstan have eight quotas while four countries have seven. Five countries have six quotas each while four nations have five quotas. Four countries got four each, eight got three each and six earned two quotas each for the Paris Games.

There will be 15 countries that won one quota. In addition, two Individual Neutral Athletes will take part in Paris 2024 along with two refugee athletes.

Wrestlers by continents

Europe - 111 (38.54 percent)
Asia - 84 (29.17 percent)
Americas - 55 (19.10 percent)
Africa - 32 (11.11 percent)
Oceania - 6 (2.08 percent).

Quotas by continents

Europe - 26 countries (42.62 percent)
Asian - 12 countries (19.67 percent)
American - 12 countries (19.67 percent)
Africa - 7 countries (11.48)
Oceania - 4 countries (6.56 percent)

Debuts

- Four countries will be making their debuts at the Olympics in Women's Wrestling - Lithuania, Algeria, New Zealand and Uzbekistan
- Honduras is sending its first-ever Greco-Roman wrestler to the Olympics
- The Dominican Republic is sending its first-ever Freestyle wrestler to the Olympics

Full List of Quotas

Country Quota FS WW GR
USA 16 6 6 4
JPN 13 4 6 3
AZE 12 6 1 5
CHN 12 4 5 3
EGY 11 4 1 6
IRI 11 5  - 6
TUR 11 2 5 4
CUB 10 3 2 5
KGZ 10 3 3 4
MGL 9 3 6  -
UKR 9 3 4 2
ALG 8 1 2 5
KAZ 8 4  - 4
GEO 7 4  - 3
GER 7 1 4 2
MDA 7 2 3 2
UZB 7 3 1 3
BUL 6 1 2 3
CAN 6 2 4  -
IND 6 1 5  -
NGR 6 1 5  -
SRB 6 2   4
ARM 5 2 - 3
HUN 5 2 1 2
POL 5 2 2 1
ROU 5  - 3 2
COL 4  - 2 2
ECU 4  - 3 1
PUR 4 4  -  -
VEN 4 1 2 1
ALB 3 3  -  -
FRA 3  - 2 1
ITA 3 1 2  -
KOR 3  -  1 2
LTU 3 - 1 2
PRK 3 - 2 1
TUN 3 - 2 1
GRE 3 2 1  -
AIN 2 1  - 1
AUS 2 2  -  -
CHI 2  -  - 2
FIN 2  -  - 2
GBS 2 2  -  -
GUM 2  - 2  -
MEX 2 2  -  -
SWE 2  - 2  -
EOR (UWW) 2  1 1  -
BRA 1  - 1  -
BRN 1 1  -  -
DEN 1  -  - 1
DOM 1 1    
EST 1  -  - 1
HON 1  -  - 1
MAR 1  -  - 1
MKD 1 1  -  -
NOR 1  - 1  -
NZL 1  - 1  -
RSA 1 1  -  -
SAM 1 1  -  -
SMR 1 1  -  -
SVK 1 1  -  -
TJK 1 1  -   -
Total = 63 290 97 96 97