India Wrestler Sakshi Malik has failed to defeat teenage sensation – Sonam Malik as thus defeat has cost her qualifications to the Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan.

The wrestler who won bronze in the 2016 Olympic event in Rio back in Brazil describes her junior as just another wrestler who is looking to make a name for herself.

Sonam revealed during an exclusive interview that she acknowledges the fact that she lost two matches to Sonam. “I think she is fighting hard to make a name for herself and I see she is working towards qualification for the Olympics, and that is why anyone can compete”.

Back in January, Sakshi tasted her first defeat to Sonam in the Rome Ranking Series and at the Asian Championships. This means she had to compete in a category which wasn’t an Olympic category in the tournament held in New Delhi, India back in February where she won a silver medal and also earned another chance to make to the Asian Olympic qualifiers

Sonam revealed after her inability to qualify that she has lost to her opponent (Sonam) twice and felt she couldn’t give her 100% in her bouts as she felt a bit of pressure because the trials were vital. ” I hope I don’t make these mistakes again in the future.”

” I am looking forward to improving the more and get prepared for other tournaments in the coming months”.

Sakshi could get a glimmer of hope for her qualifications in the World Tournament which will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria.[ Aprio 30th to May 3rd]. And this can only happen if Sonam fails to qualify.

The Asian Qualifiers will kick off on the 27th  to 29th of March in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. But there have been concerns as the government of the host nation won’t be hosting the tournament due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

Written by:  Olumide Akinnifesi