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London Olympics bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt is confident that wrestling will yet again fetch India a medal at the Olympic Games. He vouches for the 6-member Wrestling squad and believes that the number could be greater than one if the grapplers get a favorable draw.

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Yohgeshwar Dutt on the medal potential of Wrestlers

India will have a six-member wrestling contingent in Paris where the mat competition will begin on August 5. Only Aman Sehrawat (57kg) could qualify in the men's section but the women put up a strong show by qualifying in five of six Olympic weight divisions. Only 62kg is missing from the list. India have not missed a wrestling medal since 2008 Beijing Games where the legendary Sushil Kumar won a bronze.

"A lot will depend on the draw. If India get a favourable draw, then I am expecting three medals," Yogeshwar Dutt told PTI Videos on the sidelines of an AIFF event.

"In the last four consecutive Olympics, we got medals from Wrestling.

So I hope, wish & pray the fifth time in a row, wrestling will bring medal for the nation. I wish all the wrestlers all the very best. I think they are well- prepared," said Yogeshwar.

"After hockey, wrestling has given India the most number of medals. It has given seven medals ahead of all other Olympic sports. Wrestling is without doubt the number one individual Olympic sport for India." The former India wrestler, who is also a BJP leader now, feels that India will return with its best-ever show in the Olympics.

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What to follow in Wrestling in the Paris Olympics?

A roadmap to follow for the wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics: Athletes to Watch: —Hassan Yazdani, Iran: Nicknamed “The Greatest,” Yazdani was a gold medalist at 74 kilograms in 2016. He lost to David Taylor in the gold medal match in the 86-kilogram division in Tokyo. Taylor isn't competing in Paris, possibly clearing a way for Yazdani to return to the top.

—Taha Akgul, Turkey: A 2016 gold medalist, Akgul was among those who lost to American Gable Steveson at the Tokyo Games. He beat Georgia's Geno Petriashvili, the silver medalist in Tokyo, at the European Championships earlier this year. With Steveson not returning, Akgul could emerge victorious in the 125-kilogram class.

—Kennedy Blades, United States. The dynamic 20-year-old beat Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray at the U.S. trials and is competing in the women's 76-kilogram freestyle division.

—Helen Maroulis, United States. She is aiming to become the first American women's wrestler to win three Olympic medals. She won gold in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo and is competing in the 57-kilogram division in Paris.

—Mijain Lopez, Cuba. At age 41, he seeks a record fifth gold medal as a heavyweight in Greco-Roman. He became the first wrestler to win four gold medals when he dominated in Tokyo.

Storylines to Follow: —Who will be the men's heavyweight champion in freestyle? Steveson won at age 21, then left for pro wrestling and didn't participate in the U.S. Olympic Trials. That leaves the class wide open.—New faces: None of the three U.S. gold medalists from Tokyo return. Taylor lost to Aaron Brooks in the trials; Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Steveson did not attempt to qualify.

—Zhan Beleniuk, a member of Ukraine's Parliament, won gold in Tokyo and is aiming to win again.

Key Dates: Competition starts Aug. 5 and gold medal matches are scheduled from Aug. 7-11.

  • Reigning Champions: Men's Freestyle 57 kg: Zaur Uguev, Russia.
  • 65 kg: Takuto Otoguro, Japan.
  • 74 kg: Zaurbek Sidakov, Russia.
  • 86 kg: David Taylor, United States.
  • 97 kg: Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Russia.
  • 125 kg: Gable Steveson, United States.
  • Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg: Luis Orta, Cuba.
  • 67 kg: Mohammad Reza Geraei, Iran.
  • 77 kg: Tamas Lorincz, Hungary.
  • 87 kg: Zhan Beleniuk, Ukraine.
  • 97 kg: Musa Evloev, Russia.
  • 130 kg: Mijain Lopez, Cuba.

Women's freestyle 50 kg: Yui Susaki, Japan.

  • 53 kg: Mayu Mukaida, Japan.
  • 57 kg: Risako Kawai, Japan.
  • 62 kg: Yukako Kawai, Japan.
  • 68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock, United States.
  • 76 kg: Aline Rotter-Focken, Germany.

(With inputs from PTI and AP)

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