Sumit Sangwan qualify London Olympics 2012

Sumit Sangwan qualify for London Olympics 2012 . Sumit Sangwan struck gold on Thursday to round off a brilliant performance by India in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan where the country bagged three London tickets to make it an unprecedented seven-strong contingent for the quadrennial extravaganza. The 19-year-old Sumit (81kg) beat Tajikistan's Dzhakon Qurbanov 14-9 to bag his maiden senior international gold in his debut event. Besides these two, Vijender Singh (75kg) also booked a London berth by making the semifinals of the last qualifiers for the July-August mega-event. Four Indian boxers -- L Devendro Singh (49kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Vikas Krishan (69kg) - had already booked their Olympic berths in last year's World Championship.
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Vijender Singh qualifies for Olympic 2012

Boxer Vijender Singh (75kg) qualifies for the London Olympic 2012 and becomes first boxer to qualify for a third successive time after reaching the semifinals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kazakhstan on Sunday. The first Indian to win an Olympic and World Championships medal -- bronze in both events -- Vijender outpunched Chuluuntumur Tumurkhuyag of Mongolia 27-17 to not just assure himself of an Olympic berth but also a medal at the ongoing tournament. "I am back," were Vijender's first words while speaking to a news agency from Astana on Sunday after winning the crucial bout, a loss in which would have ended his hopes of making the London Games.
The 26-year-old had failed in his first attempt to book a ticket for London in last year's World Championships. "I have answered all my critics, who said that I was finished (after losing in the first round of World Championships)," said the former world number one, who was gasping for breath after a draining encounter. Before the 2008 Beijing Games, Vijender had won gold at the Asian Qualifiers at that time, which incidentally were also held in Kazakhstan.

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Geeta Phogat qualifies for London Olympics 2012

Woman wrestler Geeta Phogat qualifies for London Olympics 2012 on Sunday. Geeta created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics after winning gold in the 55kg category at the Asian qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 23-year-old beat South Korea’s Ji-eun Um to bag only the second gold for India at this edition of the event. She had also won gold at the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Hailing from a family of wrestlers, Geeta’s sisters, Babita and Mamta, have also represented India. Her win on Sunday, in a way, made up for the ignominy Babita had suffered in the run-up to the qualifiers. Babita, considered the most talented of the three sisters, had failed to clear the weigh-in at two international meets, following which she was dropped from the squad. Wrestler Geeta Phogat belongs to Balali village in Bhiwani district of Haryana.

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