Amar Dhesi and Jordie Steen have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following their semifinal victories at the Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament, reports Wrestling Canada.
Dhesi pinned his opponent Charles Merrill of Puerto Rico to secure victory in the 125 kg semifinal. The 24-year-old from Surrey, B.C., won his two round robin matches by technical superiority.
“It means everything. Since I started this sport at five or six years old that’s all I could dream about. It was a long road, a lot of sacrifices,” said Dhesi, who’s been living and training in Columbus, Ohio. “It means a lot, not just for me but for my family, my community. I’m not done yet; this is just a step.”
Amar Dhesi gets his ticket to Tokyo 2020 in the 125 kg weight class!🤼♂️
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) March 15, 2020
Next stop: the Olympic Games ✈️🇨🇦@WrestlingCanada pic.twitter.com/dVCdT1ehDS
Jasmit Singh Phulka failed to qualify in his 74 kg category.
Steen, of Tecumseh, Ontario, defeated Dominica’s Luis Miguel Perez Sosa by technical superiority 13-2 in the 97 kg semifinal. After going down two early in the match, the 28-year-old used his signature ankle lace attack to storm back to win.
The duo joins Erica Wiebe and Danielle Lappage who qualified for the Tokyo Games on Saturday.
The tournament was held without spectators inside the competition venue to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Dillon Williams of Toronto made it to the 65 kg semifinal, but lost 10-0 to Alejandro Valdes Tobier of Cuba.
There will be a last chance Olympic Qualification Tournament later in the year. It was originally scheduled to run April 30 to May 3 in Sofia, Bulgaria, but has been postponed to the beginning of June.
Canada’s four heavyweights punch their tickets for the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020
— Erica Wiebe (@ericawiebe) March 15, 2020
68kg - @DanielleLappage
76kg - Me 💁🏼♀️
97kg - Jordie Steen
125kg - Amerveer Dhesi @WrestlingCanada pic.twitter.com/I8kq58DUA0