Ronak Dahiya emerged as the sole Indian beacon of hope in the U17 World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships, securing a place in the semifinals on the opening day of competition. Competing in the 110kg weight class, Dahiya showcased his prowess, starting with a decisive 8-1 victory over Artur Manvelian. He followed this up with a dominant technical superiority win against Daniil Maslakou, showcasing his strength and skill.
Dahiya, who trains at the renowned Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, will now face Zoltan Czako of Hungary in the semifinals. His impressive run makes him the only Indian wrestler to progress to this stage of the competition.
Meanwhile, Nishant Phogat (80kg) provided another ray of hope for the Indian contingent, securing a 7-1 win against Mohamed Abadi of Algeria in the qualification round. However, Phogat ultimately lost on criteria to Nichita Apostol of Moldova in a closely contested match.
The other Indian wrestlers, Bikash Kachhap (48kg), Anuj (65kg), and Samrath Gajanan (55kg) are awaiting the semifinal results to determine their fate in the competition. The outcome of these matches will be crucial in determining India’s overall performance at the championships.
