UWW

Another Russian to qualify from World Olympic Qualifiers, VERONIKA CHUMIKOVA (RUS) defeated European and U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) to win the quota for Russian Federation in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was trailing Bullen in the second period of the bout but spun a big throw to get the fall and upset the Norway wrestler. She won the gold medal later by beating Mathilde RIVIERE of France. Chumikova had lost to Evelina NIKOLOVA of Bulgaria at the European Olympic Qualifiers. She will be competing at her first Games in Tokyo. She finished with a silver medal at the European Championships and a bronze at the Individual World Cup last year. She was born in the Shikhazan village, Kanashsky district in Chuvashia, Russia.