Vinesh Phogat withdrew mid-way from the World Championships trials, while cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat made a superb comeback to the mat after three years away.
Vinesh had been suspended by the WFI earlier this month for indiscipline before being let off with a warning. She was far from her dominant self in her 10-5 win in the opening bout against Anju in the 55kg category and thereafter did not take mat against Pinki, who eventually sealed her place for the Championships, scheduled to be held from October 2-10.
"I don't know what happened to me. It's not injury. I felt dizzy," Vinesh said, sitting in the practice arena. Vinesh had said she blanked in her Tokyo Olympics quarterfinal and even struggled to complete a take down move. "My body is not the same. I am consulting a doctor for this (medical issue). Maybe the coronavirus infection has affected my body," she said.
Sangeeta Phogat, who married Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia last year (who was in her coach's corner), returned to the mat after two knee surgeries and came away with confident victories. She first beat junior world championship silver medallist Sanju Devi by technical superiority and then beat Manisha 9-5 in the fast-paced final to claim her spot in the Indian team in the 62kg category. The 23-year-old had undergone a right knee surgery in 2018, missing the World Championships and then required another operation on her left knee in 2019 before the trials for the Asian Championships.
"This performance gives me confidence that I will be a medal contender at the Worlds. I could really do what I wanted to do. The training in USA for months and consistent support from Bajrang helped me," Sangeeta told PTI. "While my father (Mahavir Phogat) has trained me on the mat, Bajrang keeps me motivated and also chips in with his inputs," she said, adding that next year's Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are also on "my radar".
Bajrang said the result was beyond expectations. "Honestly, we just wanted to see how her knees behave, if they hold. We did not expect to win. I just told her to give her best," he said.
In the same 62kg category, Rio bronze medallist Sakshi Malik was knocked out by Manisha.
The youngsters, who recently competed and did well at the junior World Championships, outperformed many seniors. As many as five of them booked their slots in the team ahead of the seniors. Shubham Kaushik first stunned senior national champion Pankaj 8-3 and then beat Railways' Arun 8-4 to win the 57kg trials.
Yash Tushir, who won a bronze in Russia in junior worlds, outclassed veteran Amit Dhankar in the 74kg final. Gourav Balian, who had also won a bronze, outwitted Narsingh Pancham Yadav in a fast-paced final.
Pruthviraj Basaheb Patil (92kg) and Anirudh Gulia (125kg), who won a bronze each in junior worlds, also qualified. Ravinder Dahiya (61kg), Rohit (65kg), Sushil (70kg), Sandeep Mann (86kg) and Satywart Kadian (97kg) were other winners.
Among women wrestlers, Anshu Malik was also not at her best but still won the place in the 57kg with wins over Mansi (TSU) and senior pro Lalita (2-0). "I have an issue with my left elbow, that's why I could not play freely. I gained good experience in Tokyo though I could not do well. It's just a start for me at the senior level, I will get better," she said.
Experienced Sarita Mor (59kg) Divya Kakran (72kg), who was show-caused by WFI for indiscipline, also qualified along with Hanny (50kg), Pooja Jatt (53kg), Bhateri (65kg), Ritu Malik (68kg) and Kiran (76kg).