Tokyo Olympics: Play mind games and tire out your opponent: Amit Dahiya’s advice for Ravi Dahiya ahead of the final | Tokyo Olympics News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Ravi Dahiya is now one win away from creating history. The wrestler from Nahri village, in Sonipat district, Haryana, has already assured himself and the country of at least a silver medal, after he stormed into the final of the men’s freestyle 57kg event, registering a thrilling win over Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev.
Ravi became only the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the final at Olympics. Before Ravi, Sushil Kumar, who has bronze and silver medals to his name at the Olympics, was the only Indian to enter the final (2012). The two-time Olympic medallist entered the final of the 2012 London Games but had to settle for a silver.
Ravi will now face Zaur Uguev of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the gold medal match. Uguev, who is a two-time world champion, defeated Iran’s Reza Atrinagharchi to enter the final.
Ravi has faced Uguev before – in the 2019 World Championships and lost to him.
Ravi’s senior and experienced wrestler Amit Dahiya followed the World Championship bout between Ravi and Uguev closely and said Ravi had managed to tire out Uguev in that bout but failed to play mind games against him.
Ravi had won a bronze medal in the 2019 World Championships, held in Nur Sultan.
“Uguev is a super-strong opponent and difficult to beat. Ravi played really well in the World Championships. Ravi managed to get him tired by not giving a single chance. My only advice to Ravi is spend as much time on the mat as possible and don’t give Uguev a single chance to attack. Uguev will attack. He is an attacking wrestler,” Amit told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Ravi Dahiya after defeating Nurislam Sanayev. (Reuters Photo)
“Ravi has to read his mind. He needs to toy with Uguev’s mind. If he manages to do it, he will win the gold medal. I am confident Ravi will bring gold,” Uguev said.
Ravi had hit the mats in Tokyo with a bang and crushed Colombia’s Oscar Eduardo Tigreros Urbano 13-2 (victory by technical superiority) to cruise into the quarterfinals. The Indian wrestler didn’t give his quarterfinal opponent, Bulgaria’s Valentinov Georgi Vangelov much of a chance either and wrapped up the bout by registering a 14-4 (victory by technical superiority) to enter the semis.
Ravi was given a tough fight from Kazakhstan’s Nurislam but dramatically turned the bout in his favour and booked a place in the final.
“Not just me, everyone knew Ravi will enter the final. Ravi got an easy pool. He also knew that he would enter the final. He had already defeated these wrestlers in the past. Now, he will be fighting the super-strong opponent,” Amit further said.
“He should watch Uguev videos and plan wisely against him,” Amit, who represented India at the 2012 London Olympics, said. Amit is also a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships gold medallist.

Ravi Dahiya during his bout against Nurislam Sanayev. (Reuters Photo)
NAHRI SET TO WELCOME THEIR SON
Ravi’s village of Nahri in Sonipat, Haryana meanwhile is getting ready to welcome one of their favourite sons. Nahri is all set to celebrate Ravi’s arrival.
“We have started preparing everything. We will welcome him with full celebrations. There will be a big celebration in Nahri. It is a very big occasion. Because of Ravi, Nahri will be more famous,” Amit told TimesofIndia.com.
“He has achieved something very big for the wrestling family. Whatever happened recently (Sushil Kumar case), the status of wrestling has gone down. Ravi has again restored the image of wrestling,” Amit signed off.