After Sakshi Malik’s stupendous performance in the 58 kg category, India will pin its hopes on Babita Kumari to come up with the goods in the 53 kg class. Babita will face Greece’s Maria Prevolaraki in the pre-quarterfinals of the category at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Thursday.

Babita, who secured a quota for the Rio Olympics at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kazakhstan will be looking to put up a good show on her Olympic debut. She becomes the third Phogat sibling after elder sister Geeta (London 2012) and cousin Vinesh to make her Olympic bow.

A win over Prevolaraki will put Babita in the quarterfinals of the class where she will face either Venezuela’s Angelica Villegas or Cameroon’s Essombe Taiko.

Her opponent, Greece’s Prevolaraki secured qualification to the Olympics by winning the Silver medal at the World Olympic qualifiers in Mongolia in April. An experienced wrestler, Prevolaraki is expected to serve up a tough test but Babita said that she is confident of her chances going into the encounter. “I have been preparing intensively for the Olympics. I have studied my opponents closely and I am sure all this preparation will come in handy. My category has some really good wrestlers competing but I have faith that the work I have put in before the Olympics will allow me to perform to the best of my ability,” she said.

The 26-year-old also said that Sakshi’s medal-winning effort and the heartbreak of Vinesh’s injury would spur her on. “I am extremely happy for Sakshi but at the same time I am really disappointed with what happened to Vinesh. India should have had two medals yesterday. However, their performances have really boosted my morale and confidence. I want to give all that I have and more when I take the mat today,” she said.