Indian wrestler Anshu Malik, aged 22, sustained a left shoulder strain during training with less than a month remaining until the Paris 2024 Olympics. Anshu Malik had earned a quota for Paris 2024 in the women’s 57kg freestyle category at the Asian wrestling Olympic Qualifiers held in April this year. Additionally, she won a silver medal at the Budapest Ranking Series in June.
Anshu Malik, a silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games, returned to her training base at Mirchpur Academy in Haryana last week before experiencing her recent setback. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has requested an update on her condition and is closely observing her recovery. However, Anshu’s father and coach Dharamveer Malik indicated that there is no cause for alarm.
“During a practice session, she suffered strain and as a precautionary measure, she stopped training. She also underwent an MRI and there is nothing to worry. The scan is clean. Two days back she started training again. We will leave for Japan for a training camp in a few days,” Dharamveer was quoted as saying by Olympics.com.
Six Indian wrestlers—Anshu Malik (women’s 57kg), Antim Panghal (women’s 53kg), Vinesh Phogat (women’s 50kg), Reetika Hooda (women’s 76kg), Nisha Dahiya (women’s 68kg), and Aman Sehrawat (men’s freestyle 57kg)—have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The participation of these athletes in the Games is contingent upon their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) selecting them to represent India’s delegation at Paris 2024, as NOCs have the sole authority for such decisions.
With no scheduled selection trials, the six quota holders are set to participate in Paris 2024. Anshu Malik, if medically cleared, will compete in her second Olympic Games after her debut at Tokyo 2020, where she lost in the pre-quarters to eventual silver medallist Iryna Kurachkina. However, if there are ongoing concerns about her fitness, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has until July 8 to modify their nominations.