Free-style wrestler Sandeep Tomar books fourth Indian spot for 2016 Rio Olympics

New Delhi: Sandeep Tomar on Sunday became the fourth Indian wrestler qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 24-year-old defeated Alexandru Chirtoaca 10-0 in one of the bronze medal matches in the freestyle 57 kg category at the World Qualifying Tournament in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

After losing to Mirjala Hasan-Zada of Azerbaizan in the semi-finals, the wrestler from Sonepat in Haryana needed to beat his Moldovan opponent in the bronze medal play-off to secure the Olympics spot.

In an impressive outing Tomar had defeated Sezar Akgul of Turkey by technical fall, after leading 11-0 in the 1/8 round. In the quarter-finals, he defeated Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov of Krysgystan 4-1.

However, in the semis, he suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Mirjalal despite score being 8-8.

Tomar won gold medals at the 2016 Asian Wrestling Championships and the 2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.

India have already secured Olympics spots in 65 kg and 67 kg Freestyle events, and 98 kg in Greco-Roman.

Narsingh Pancham Yadav, who won India's sole medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, book himself a ticket to Rio in the 67 kg, but the spot is currently in contention with Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar also vying for that same berth.

At the 2016 Asian Qualification Tournament in March, Yogeshwar Dutt — in the 65 kg category, and Hardeep Singh — in the 98 kg in Greco-Roman, have booked their respective places.