Atlanta '96: Britain pin faith on outsider

SPORT-BY-SPORT GUIDE No 8: Wrestling

In the past 40 years Britain has won only one medal in wrestling at the Olympics - a bronze by Noel Loban in 1984 - not exactly the most impressive of records.

At Barcelona in 1992, Calum McNeil (under 68 kilograms freestyle category), who lost both his bouts and did not reach the final rounds, was Britain's lone competitor.

In Atlanta, Britain's poor tradition is expected to continue with only one person qualifying. Amarjit Singh, 26, from Birmingham is in the under- 130kg freestyle category but he only made it via a wild card.

Singh is not, however, a complete no-hoper. He was 11th last time he competed in Atlanta, at last year's World Championships, and was ninth at the European Championships in Budapest in March.

Robin Tomlinson, Britain's wrestling national development officer, said: "If Singh gets a good draw he could make it quite far in the competition".

Bruce Baumgartmer (the current 130kg freestyle Olympic champion from the US) and Mahmut Demir (Turkey) are two of the leading medal contenders and Singh's biggest dangers.

The Russians have a very strong overall team and in Alexander Karelin - twice Olympic champion in the under 130kg Greco-Roman category - is probably the best all-round wrestler in the world today. If he retains his title, he will equal the Olympic record of three wrestling gold medals.

GREAT BRITAIN: Under 130kg freestyle: A Singh.