The Istanbul meet, happening until May 12, is the final chance for wrestlers to earn a spot for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris 2024. Three Olympic quotas are available in each weight class, and all matches will be live streamed.
The top two finalists in each division will secure Olympic quotas for their countries, while the third spot will be determined by a playoff bout between the two bronze medallists in the weight class.
Masuda, originally from Japan but now competing for Australia, is the current Oceania champion in her category. Despite this, she was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the African & Oceania qualifiers in March. Similarly, Barns, the Oceania champion in his weight class, fell in the quarters at the continental qualifiers in Alexandria.
Australia has a history of success in wrestling at the Olympics, having won three medals – one silver and two bronze. However, their last medal was in 1948, and no Australian wrestlers competed at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
To watch the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers 2024 live in Australia, tune in to the United World Wrestling’s official website for live streaming. Unfortunately, there will be no live broadcast of the qualifiers on any TV channel in Australia.
The schedule for Australian wrestlers at the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers 2024 is as follows (all in Australian Eastern Standard Time – AEST):
– May 10, Friday: Women’s freestyle 62kg preliminary rounds – 5:00 PM onwards
– May 11, Saturday: Women’s freestyle 62kg Paris 2024 qualification rounds (semi-finals) at 1:00 AM onwards; Men’s freestyle 97kg preliminary rounds at 5:00 PM onwards; Women’s freestyle 62kg repechage and bronze medal matches at 5:00 PM and 11:45 PM respectively.
– May 12, Sunday: Men’s freestyle 97kg Paris 2024 qualification rounds (semi-finals) at 1:00 AM onwards; Women’s freestyle 62kg Paris 2024 qualification rounds (3rd vs 3rd) at 4:30 AM onwards; Men’s freestyle 97kg repechage and bronze medal matches at 10:00 PM and 11:45 PM respectively.
– May 13, Monday: Men’s 97kg Paris 2024 qualification rounds (3rd vs 3rd) at 1:00 AM onwards.