World Wrestling Championships 2017: Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat suffer crushing losses

Rio Olympic bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik suffered a major blow as she crashed out of the ongoing World Wrestling Championships after going down against Germany’s Luisa Niemesch 2-3 in the last-16 round of 60kg event on Thursday.

Malik, who made it to the round of 16 without playing the qualifying bout, had to wait for some time in order to find out if she could progress through to the repechage rounds. Niemesch, however, went on to suffer a defeat at the hands of Alli Ragan in the quarter-finals to eventually end Malik’s hopes of clinching a bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Vinesh Phogat’s campaign also came to an end as USA’s Victoria Lacey Anthony slumped to a defeat against Yui Susaki of Japan in their last-eight clash, thus ending the Indian’s hopes of competing in the repechage round.

Earlier, Phogat lost to Anthony 4-6 in the pre-quarters of the 48 kg category. Sheetal Tomar, other Indian in fray, lost to Estera Dobre of Romania in the quarter-final of the 53 kg category event. She, however, still has chance to clinch a bronze medal through the repechage round.