The Hindu : Sport / Wrestling : Stars galore in women's competition at the CWG

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Stars galore in women's competition at the CWG

Y.B. Sarangi

Canada's Carol Huynh is the Olympic champion
Sushil Kumar will be the big attraction

NEW DELHI: The women's wrestling competition will be a more star-studded affair than that of the men's in this edition of the Commonwealth Games.

According to the entry list, with some Olympic and World championship medallists in its ranks, the Canadian women's team looks all set to dominate the proceedings.

The side featuring Olympic gold medallist and World championship bronze winner Carol Huynh (48kg), Olympic bronze medallist Tonya Verbeek (59kg), World championship silver medallist Ohenewa Akuffo (72kg) and Commonwealth champions Justine Bouchard (63kg) and Megan Buydens (67kg) will be an awe-inspiring lot for their opponents.

However, one would miss three-time World title holder Martine Dugrenier (67kg).

Canada vs. India

The main contest will be between Canada and host India. Even though the host's women's team is not as strong as its men's team, World championship and Asian championship medallist Alka Tomar (59kg), Commonwealth champions Babita (51kg) and Geeta (55kg) and Asian championship bronze medallist Suman Kundu (63kg) hold some promise.

A couple of Commonwealth champions from Cameroon, Rebecca Muambo (48kg) and Annabel Ali (72kg), and Nigerian World championship bronze medallist Ifeoma Iheanacho (67kg) are expected to spice up the contest.

In men's freestyle, the star attraction will be World champion and Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar (66kg) of the host team.

Besides, former Asian champions Yogeshwar Dutt (60kg), current Asian gold medallist Narsingh Yadav (74kg) and two-time Asian championship bronze medallist Anuj Kumar (84kg) give the Indian fans lot of hope.

Wrestlers from South Africa, Australia, Scotland and Pakistan are going to challenge the Indians in this section.

India is also likely to give an authoritative performance in Greco Roman as well.

Asian and Commonwealth medallists like Rajender Kumar (55kg), Ravinder Singh (60kg), Sunil Kumar Rana (66kg) and Commonwealth championship gold medallist Dharmender Dalal (120kg) will make the going tough for other contenders.

Some 200 wrestlers from 23 countries have entered in the three styles to compete in the Commonwealth Games.

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