Wrestling
Wrestler Ronak Dahiya advances to semifinals at U17 World C'ships
The lone Indian wrestler to make it past the initial rounds, Dahiya will next face Hungary’s Zoltan Czako in the semifinals.
Indian Wrestler Ronak Dahiya (Photo credit: UWW)
On an otherwise challenging day for the Indian contingent, Greco-Roman wrestler Ronak Dahiya emerged as a beacon of hope, securing a spot in the semifinals of the U17 World Championships on Monday.
Dahiya, competing in the 110kg weight class, displayed exceptional prowess on the mat. His campaign began with a decisive 8-1 victory over Artur Manvelian. Building on this momentum, he delivered a commanding performance against Daniil Maslakou, clinching a win by technical superiority.
The lone Indian wrestler to make it past the initial rounds, Dahiya will next face Hungary’s Zoltan Czako in the semifinals. His performance has been a standout highlight on a day when several of his compatriots faced early exits.
The opening day saw five other Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers struggling to advance. Nishant Phogat (80kg) managed to secure a victory with a 7-1 win over Algeria’s Mohamed Abadi in the qualification round but was subsequently eliminated on criteria by Moldova’s Nichita Apostol.
In contrast, Bikash Kachhap (48kg) has been knocked out of the tournament. Meanwhile, Anuj (65kg) and Samrath Gajanan (55kg) are still in contention, awaiting results from their semifinal bouts to determine their fate.
Ronak Dahiya, who trains at the renowned Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, has been the standout performer for India, bringing a glimmer of optimism amidst a day of mixed results.
