Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Bajrang Punia wins BRONZE in one sided battle – India’s medal prospect Bajrang Punia has won another medal and taking India’s tally to 6 when he will play against Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov. Despite suffering a knee injury during the semifinals, Bajrang Punia decided to play the match and won.
“Due to knee injury he (Bajrang Punia) was not able to perform attacking wrestling (y’day), which he is known for. We talked over phone early morning& I told him to give his best today (match for Bronze medal),” said Wrestler Bajrang Punia’s father, Balwan Singh.
Grappler Bajrang Punia won a bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 65kg category in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after defeating Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov here at the Makuhari Messe Hall A Mat B on Saturday. Punia defeated Niyazbekov 8-0 in the bronze medal match.
From Jhajjar to Japan! 🥉
Relive the moment as #IND grappler Bajrang Punia defeated #KAZ’s Daulet Niyazbekov to win his FIRST Olympic medal and India’s 6th #Tokyo2020 medal! 👏#UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether| #BestOfTokyo | #Wrestling pic.twitter.com/WaXo3wPYXk
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 7, 2021
As a result of this win, India has equalled its tally of six medals recorded at the London Olympics 2012. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men’s hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) have also won medals. In the match between Punia and Niyazbekov, the former went on to take a 2-0 lead in the first period and all the pressure was on the Kazakh opponent heading into the last three minutes.
In the final three minutes, Bajrang managed to hold his own and he kept his opponent at bay walking away with a bronze medal.
Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Bajrang Punia wins BRONZE in one sided battle
Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Bajrang Punia vs Daulet Niyazbekov; Highlights
@16:57:
That cheer from #IND reached #Tokyo2020 for 87.58m
Go on Champ..go on, it’s in your reach #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/Ec9ILcX0zV
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) August 7, 2021
@16:22: It’s 8-0 in favor of India as Bajrang clinches Bronze
@16:21: 6-0 to Bajrang Punia against Daulet Niyazbekov
@16:20: Punia doubles his lead in the second round
@16:18: Bajrang doubles his lead over his Kazakashtani rival
@16:17: First point to Bajrang Punia
@16:16: No point in the opening minute, the duo are looking to lock one another to earn first points.
@16:15: Round 1 begins!
@16:14: Punia will now hope to emulate Ravi Kumar Dahiya, who clinched a silver medal earlier in the Summer Games.
@16:08: Both the players are at the venue and will take the court in a couple of minutes.
🇮🇳 wrestler @BajrangPunia will compete for the bronze 🥉 at #Tokyo2020 in some time.
Watch this space for updates and don’t forget to send in your #Cheer4India messages.#Wrestling #Olympics #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/OdNJGO7XmY
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 7, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Wrestling: Bajrang Punia wins BRONZE in one sided battle
Wrestler Bajrang Punia beginning his Tokyo 2020 campaign, won both games comprehensively. The Indian wrestler first defeated Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan in the 1/8 Final and then beat Iran’s Morteza Ghiasi Cheka by pinning him down to the mat (victory by fall) in the 1/4 Final.
However, Bajrang had to face a crushing defeat in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics at the hands of Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan in the men’s freestyle 65kg event.
Wrestling star Bajrang Punia’s father Balwan Singh is confident his son will bring a medal for India from the Tokyo Olympics.
“In the morning Bajrang called me and he was looking happy. I said ‘that you didn’t play your game. I watched all your three matches and you were not playing your usual self. You were just playing mentally and couldn’t attack properly,” Balwan Singh told ANI on Saturday. “He will not return empty-handed. I told him you are not losing son, you are winning and give your best even today,” Balwan Singh added.
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(with inputs from ANI)
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