Tokyo Olympics: Wrestler Sonam Malik loses opening bout on her Olympic debut

Tokyo: India's young grappler Sonam Malik put up a brave effort but lost in her Olympic debut against Mongolian wrestler Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the women’s freestyle 62kg 1/8 final event here on Tuesday.

Sonam scored one technical point each in the first and second periods and this gave her good momentum in the match.

However, Khurelkhuu stormed right back into the match as she registered two technical points in the second period, bringing the scoreline level to 2-2.

Bolortuya was adjudged as the winner on the basis of separation criteria.

Sonam Malik is still not out of the Tokyo Games yet and will get a chance to compete in the repechage round if Bolortuya reaches the final in this weight category.

The Indian wrestler made her international mark by winning bronze in the Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship and the Cadet World Wrestling Championship in 2018. The following year she grabbed gold medal in the Cadet World Wrestling Championship. (UNI)