Who are the medal contenders for India on day 8 of Commonwealth Games 2022

Eyes will be on wrestling and women's hockey where India could secure more medals.

With strong performances in the last week, India have won plenty of medals but dropped down one place to move to seventh position in the Commonwealth Games 2022 medals table. So far India have won five gold, six silver, and seven bronze for a total haul of 18 medals. Day 6 saw judoka Tulika Maan claiming silver in women’s +78KG, while weightlifters Lovepreet Singh and Gurdeep Singh won bronze in men’s 109KG and +109KG respectively.

A 35-year-old Sourav Ghosal scripted history by winning bronze in men’s singles squash, while Tejaswin Shankar also clinched bronze in men’s high jump. So far, weightlifting has fetched the most medals (10) for India, but the absence of shooting and archery has affected India’s medal tally. With wrestling due to start on August 5, India are sure to increase its numbers with some top-notch wrestlers set to be in action.

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On day 7, Amit Panghal, Jaismine and Sagar were assured of medals after winning the quarter-final bouts and entering the semis in their respective categories. Manju Bala also entered the Hammer throw final.

Let’s look at the medal prospects on Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Wrestling

Men’s Freestyle – 65KG, 86KG, and 125KG

With Wrestling scheduled to start on Day 8, India have a very high chance of adding to their medal tally. Olympics silver medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya and bronze medalist Bajrang Punia will be the headliners at the indoor arena at the Coventry stadium. However, Ravi’s match is scheduled for Day 9.

Bajrang Punia will take the mat on Commonwealth Games Day 8 in men’s freestyle in the 65KG category. All the matches of a particular category will be completed on the same day and hence, medals will be decided. We can expect gold from the Olympic bronze medalist on Friday.

Next in action will be Deepak Punia, who will compete in the men’s freestyle 86kg category. Punia lost an Olympic medal by a whisker after losing his bronze medal bout 2-4 at Tokyo 2020. However, he will look to keep aside that disappointment and secure a medal at CWG’22. 

Mohit Grewal will take the mat in the men’s freestyle 125KG category in the indoor arena on Day 8. He has won several medals in the junior wrestling events including medals at Khelo India. Grewal also won a bronze in the 2018 Junior Asian Championships.

Women’s Freestyle – 57KG, 62KG, and 68KG

Olympic Bronze medalist Sakshi Malik will hit the mat as she competes in the women’s freestyle 62KG category on Friday. Recently, Sakshi revealed that she went through a tough time last year, but the national trials helped in getting her confidence and mojo back. She is determined to win a medal at Commonwealth Games 2022. Sakshi recently won gold at the UWW Ranking series in Kazakhstan.

Wrestler Anshu Malik will contest in the women’s freestyle 57KG category. She recently won silver medal in the women’s 57KG event at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships. In January 2021, she also bagged Gold in the 57KG category at the 23rd Senior Women National Wrestling Championships.

Divya Kakran will show her brute force in the women’s freestyle 68KG category. She won a bronze medal in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in the 68kg category. In Gold Coast CWG too, she won bronze in the same category.

India’s Wrestling Squad

Women: Pooja Gehlot (50kg), Vinesh Phogat (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), Sakshi Malik (62kg), Divya Kakran (68kg), Pooja Sihag (76kg)

Men: Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Naveen (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Mohit Grewal (125kg)

Hockey – Women’s Semi-final

After defeating Canada by a 3-2 margin, Indian women’s hockey secured its place in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games 2022. After this advancement, the team is one step away from a medal. India will face Australia in the semifinals, the contest between both teams is going to be interesting.

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Australia topped Pool B after winning each of their four matches. They scored 16 goals and conceded none in the Pool stage. However, the Indian Women’s Hockey secured fourth place in Tokyo Olympics and have managed to perform consistently since then.

India finished second in Pool A with three wins and a loss in four games. The possibility of the team to arrive in Delhi with a medal is no less than a dream of more than 135 crore citizens of the country. If India wins the semi-final, they will secure a medal. However, if it loses then India have to fight for the bronze medal match.

**Details in the article are subject to change.

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