12 amazing facts from the Indian Olympic contingent that might surprise you

Hardeep Singh

Hardeep Singh became the first Indian wrestler to qualify for the Greco-Roman event in 12 years

Wrestling: First Indian Greco-Roman grappler to win an Olympic berth in the heavyweight category

Hardeep Singh surprised everyone when he secured a Rio Olympics 2016 berth in the Greco-Roman wrestling. This is the first time after 2004 that an Indian Greco-Roman grappler will be participating after the 2004 Athens Games. Before Hardeep, India never had Greco-Roman heavyweight representation in Olympics.

Hardeep, who belongs to Dohla village in Jind, Haryana, earned the quota at the first Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Astana in March. He crushed Kazakhstan’s Margulan Assembekov 10-2 in a lop-sided semi-final bout to earn the spot.

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Seema Punia

Seema Punia won gold in the 2014 Asian Games

Discuss Throw: Defeated 2008 Olympic champion and qualified for Rio Games

Seema Punia got the better of Stephanie Brown Trafton with a 62.62m effort to win the gold medal at the Pat Young Throwers Classic in California.

The 2014 Asian Games champion’s throw was more than a metre ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games qualification mark of 61 metres. Stephanie won the Silver with a throw of 60.50 metres.

Hailing from Sonepat, Haryana, this will be Punia's third Olympics after participating in 2004 and 2012.