Indian wrestler Reetika Hooda’s dreams of an Olympic medal were dashed as she was eliminated from the Paris Olympics without a chance to fight for bronze. Competing in the women’s 76kg freestyle wrestling event, Hooda’s journey came to a premature end when she was denied a spot in the repechage round after Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy, whom she lost to in the quarterfinals, was defeated by Kennedy Blades in the semifinals.
Promising start turns sour for Reetika Hooda
Reetika Hooda made history as the first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympics in heavyweight wrestling, raising hopes for a strong finish. She kicked off her campaign with an impressive victory by technical superiority over Hungary’s Bernadett Nagy. However, her momentum was halted in the quarterfinals by top-seed Aiperi Medet Kyzy.
Reetika Hooda’s hopes for a bronze medal rested on Kyzy advancing to the finals, but when Kyzy lost a close 6-8 match to Kennedy Blades, Hooda’s journey ended.
Aman Sehrawat: The only Wrestling Medal
While Reetika Hooda’s campaign ended in disappointment, Indian wrestling found a glimmer of success through Aman Sehrawat, who secured India’s first wrestling medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Sehrawat’s decisive 13-5 victory over Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz earned him a bronze medal, bringing India’s total medal count at the Games to six, just one short of the seven medals won in Tokyo 2020.
Bitter Conclusion for Paris Olympics
Reetika Hooda’s exit from the Paris Olympics marks a bittersweet end to what was a historic achievement for Indian wrestling. Although she couldn’t bring home a medal, her accomplishment of being the first Indian woman to compete in heavyweight wrestling at the Olympics remains a significant milestone.
