Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik Earn 2016 Rio Olympics Quota Spot

Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik earned 2016 Rio Olympics quota spots in wrestling on Saturday, as the duo entered the final of 2nd Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the first time two female Indian wrestlers will compete at the Olympics.

While Vinesh earned the spot in 48kg, Sakshi earned quota in the 58kg. Though the duo earned quota spots, there is no assurance that they will represent India at the Olympics. National trials will determine who will compete at the Games in August.

In 2012 London Olympics, Geeta Phogat became the first Indian female wrestler (55 kg) to compete at the Olympics.

Vinesh earned the spot as she defeated Evin Demirhan of Turkey in the semifinal. She will face Poland's Iwona Nina Matkowska in the final.

Sakshi earned the quota as she beat Lan Zhang of China in the semifinal. She will face Russia's Valeria Koblova Zholobova in the final.

Vinesh and Sakshi joined Yogeshwar Dutt, Narsingh Yadav, Sandeep Tomar and Hardeep Singh who have already clinched qualifying places in the tournament.

Other girls fail

In 63kg, Shilpi Sheron managed to reach the bronze-medal round after winning her repechage bout against Leidy Marcela Izquierdo Mendez 4-6 by fall verdict.

Although, Shilpi had lost her pre-quarterfinals bout against Sweden's Henna Katarina Johansson, she got lucky to get an opportunity to fight in the repechage round as her Swedish opponent made the final.

However, the remaining three Indian girls in the fray today -- Lalita (53kg), Geetika Jakhar (69kg) and Kiran (75kg) -- bowed out of the competition in the initial stages.

'Dream come true'

Vinesh was overjoyed at having clinched the coveted quota for the Olympic games, especially after getting disqualified for being overweight in the previous qualification event at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

"Going to the Olympics has been my dream right from the day I started wrestling. I am glad that I could achieve that today. It wasn't an easy journey. I had to quickly cast aside whatever happened in Mongolia and concentrate on the task at hand," said Vinesh after reaching the final of women's 48kg.

"I knew this was my last chance and I think I just put everything I had into making sure that I sealed that quota and proved myself. I had faith in my training and the support that my coaches and the JSW Sports Excellence Program has given me," she added.

A relieved Sakshi also expressed satisfaction at acquiring an Olympic berth.

"We had been training quite intensively in Bulgaria and I was making sure that I was mentally prepared for the pressure that this competition brought. I was in good rhythm after my opening bout and I just continued to do what I was doing. It was a matter of keeping my composure in the last minute of my semifinal bout against the Chinese wrestler. I am happy that I managed to hold on," said Sakshi.

(With inputs from Suprita Das, Vimal Mohan and PTI)