Despite Reetika Hooda’s Asian Championships final, her coach sees a silver lining | Sport-others News

Mixed feelings gripped wrestler Reetika Hooda’s coach Mandeep after she won silver (76 kg) at the Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan. A coach at the Sir Chotu Ram Stadium, the alma mater of Rio Olympics bronze medall Sakshi Malik, Mandeep saw a silver lining despite Reetika losing 6-7 to Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy after leading 6-2 with 10 seconds left in the final.
“With that kind of lead she should have defended instead of attacking. It was a make on her part. If the bout was tied at 1-1 or 2-2 then attacking was the right option but in yesterday’s situation, she should have defended her lead,” Mandeep said. But he sees an upside too. In the quarterfinal of the Olympics, Reetika had lost to the same wrestler after a passivity count. “She was proactive this time and attacked brilliantly. But in the final 10 seconds she should have been smarter,” Mandeep said.
The final of the 76kg women’s category at the Asian Championships started with Medet taking 2-0 lead with a takedown. However, Reetika made a solid comeback with two leg attacks and then reversing her defence to a takedown and lead 6-2. In the final seconds, Medet took down Reetika earning two points, then used a 90 degree turn to make it 6-6. The Kyrgyzstan wrestler won gold virtue of scoring the last point.
Story continues below this ad

Great expectations
A lot rests on Reetika’s strong shoulders. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics in the heavyweight division. Once she became the Under-23 champion two years ago, she was seen as the next big thing in Indian wrestling. That she’s from the same region and akhada as Sakshi adds to the expectations.
This is her second medal at the Asian Championships, in 2023 she won the bronze in the 72kg category in Kazakhstan.
Mandeep believes Reetika had it in her to return with the gold medal. Once she returns home, Mandeep and Reetika will hit the mat again to work on her strategy.
“I talked to her this morning, she was disheartened that despite being so close to the gold medal she lost. She’s become more attacking and is also mentally stronger now. Not winning the gold is a setback but she will only be wiser after this experience,” Mandeep added.Story continues below this ad
Barring the setback, Reetika had a great tournament winning both bouts in dominant fashion before the final. She decimated Seoyeon Jeong of South Korea 10-0 in the quarter-finals and then went on to pin Nodoka Yamamoto of Japan in 4 minutes and 13 seconds.
At the Paris Olympics, her first ever Summer Games, Reetika felt the gravity of the occasion. “Honestly, it is an overwhelming experience. When I entered the area, the feeling was surreal. People were cheering every move and I felt really motivated that,” Reetika told this newspaper during the Asian Championships trials earlier this month.
The loss to Medet was because of pure luck, Reetika had said.
“That bout was very close. I think it comes down to luck. It was an equal bout that day. I was well prepared for the Olympics but I think it comes down to such little things,” Reetika said.Story continues below this ad
After her Under-23 World Championships triumph, Reetika had a dominant year in which she clinched the gold at the Goa National Games defeating Commonwealth Games medall Divya Kakran and dominated the Olympic qualifier trials at home. Then, she won the Asian Olympic qualifiers.
Dengue and injury
However, after the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reetika had a bout with dengue and then suffered a tendon tear in her shoulder. “After Paris I didn’t work much on my technique as first I had dengue and then the injury. Everybody suggested that I not go for the trials but playing in Asian Championships is important. My body felt good after the recovery from dengue hence I came for the trials” Reetika had said.
Her next big target is finishing on the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While my ultimate target is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, right now I am taking one tournament at a time,” Reetika said.
With another medal in her kitty, India’s best heavyweight woman wrestler has a big year in front of her with the World Championships coming up in September. “I am ready for all challenges,” Ritika said. Lessons learnt at the Asian Championship will hold her in good stead.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

Expand