Rio Olympics Wrestling: Sandeep Tomar Bows Out of 57 kg Freestyle Event

Grappler Sandeep Tomar lost to two-time World Champion Victor Lebedev of Russia 3-7 in the 57 kg category to get ousted from the men's freestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics on Friday.

Tomar officially bowed when Lebedev was beaten 1-6 in his next encounter against Sabzali Hassan Rahimi of Iran. Sandeep first conceded a penalty point for his passivity and the Russian World Champion defended well as the Indian did not succeed in his attempt to get an ankle hold.

In the process, Lebedev got a couple of technical points, getting better of the Asian Championship gold medallist. The first three-minute period saw the Russian leading 3-0.

Tomar was more purposeful in the second period as he pushed Lebedev out to get a point and then finally got a single ankle hold right to reduce the margin to 3-5.

However with little time left, Tomar had to go for the jugular but in the process had his defence open which enabled the Russian to clinch the bout with a two-point manoeuvre to take an unassailable 7-3 lead. The only wrestler left in the fray in London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt.