Wrestler Babita Kumari loses opening bout, knocked out of Rio Olympics
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist was defeated 1-5 by Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the round of 16 of the women's 53 kg freestyle category.
Indian wrestler Babita Kumari lost her opening bout in the Rio Olympics to Greece's Maria Prevolaraki in the round of 16 of the women's 53 kg freestyle category on Thursday. Prevolaraki won the bout 5-1. Kumari had an outside chance of competing for the bronze playoff if Prevolaraki progressed to the final, but the Greek lost in the quarter-finals, which knocked Kumari out.
Prevolaraki got the first point of the bout by pushing Kumari out of the safety zone of the mat. Prevolaraki was the more defensive of the two and was pushing for arm locks, but got two more points with a take-down. The first period ended with Kumari trailing 0-3.
Kumari, the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, got her first point of the bout in the second period after her opponent was penalised for being too passive. However, Prevolaraki got two more points soon after Kumari paid for being too aggressive. With just one minute left and Kumari trailing 1-5, it was all over.