India's women wrestling campaign ends as Babita Kumari bows out

Indian wrestler Babita Kumari failed to replicate what bronze medallist Sakshi Malik achieved as she crashed out of the women's 53kg freestyle wrestling competition here at the Rio Olympics on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Bhiwani girl, who was waiting for the repechage result, was eliminated from the prestigious quadrennial tournament after Greece's Maria Prevolaraki was beaten by Betzabeth Angelica Arguello Villegas 6-3 in their quarter-final contest here at Carioca Arena.

As per the repechage system, Babita would have brought herself back into the bronze medal contention had Prevolaraki been reached the finals of the 53kg freestyle competition .

Babita had earlier failed to continue her country's euphoria on the mat, as she suffered a crushing 1-5 defeat at the hands of Maria Prevolaraki in the pre-quarter-finals.

With the defeat, India's women's campaign in wrestling also folded at the event.

Earlier, wrestler Sakshi Malik received another chance at a medal via repechage and made full use of the second life as she beat reigning Asian champion Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5 in the bronze medal match to end the country's agonising wait for a medal in Rio.