2024-08-11 17:41:11
Paris: Indian wrestler Ritika Hooda’s Olympic journey in the 76kg women’s wrestling ended in the quarterfinal. Despite a valiant effort, she lost to Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Metet after a thrilling match that ended in a draw.
The 21-year-old Ritika, making her Olympic debut, started strong, taking a one-point lead in the opening period. However, she suffered a setback in the second period when she was penalized for “passivity,” costing her the final point of the match.
According to the rules, the wrestler who scores the last point in a tied match is declared the winner. If Metet advances to the final, Ritika will have a chance to secure a bronze medal through the repechage round.
Earlier in the tournament, Ritika secured her place in the quarter-finals with a dominant victory. She defeated Hungary’s Bernadette Nagy 12-2 by technical superiority.
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Ritika gave a tough competition in the quarter finals
Ritika dominated the first period, leading 4-0, and showcased her defensive prowess, thwarting the eighth-seeded wrestler’s attacks. However, she received a warning from the referee for passivity, putting her under pressure to score points in the remaining time.
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Bernadette attempted to exploit Ritika’s leg, but the Indian wrestler responded with a brilliant flip and countered with two points. Despite trailing 0-4 in the first period, the Hungarian wrestler staged a comeback, scoring two points. However, Ritika maintained her composure and secured victory with two consecutive takedowns and a series of successful moves that forced the referee to stop the match 29 seconds early.