Bajrang Punia has won the bronze medal in style in the 65kg freestyle wrestling at Tokyo Olympics. He has defeated Kazakhstan’s wrestler Daulet Niyazbekov in this match.
Bajrang started the game aggressively and dominated in the whole, as the scoreline of 8-0 says everything. In the first half of the match, Bajrang was trying hard to get the point, but Kazakhstan’s man didn’t let him do that and defended very well. Bajrang got the lead before the break with his two-point move after he pushed Daulet out of the mat. Bajrang’s strategy was different this time, instead of defending the lead, he was playing offensive in the second half as well. Meanwhile, Daulet Niyazbekov was only defending and looking for the counter-attack. Just 1:30 minutes left in the game and Bajrang grabbed Daulet’s leg and turned him on the ground. This move of Bajrang gave him two more points. The lead was now of 4 points with just 1 minute 15 seconds left in the game, it seemed Bajrang is very close to the medal. This lead of 4 points turned into 8 at the final whistle. In the entire match, he took out points with only two-point moves.
Meanwhile, Punia’s father Balwan Singh was confident before the game that his son will bring a medal.
“He will not return empty-handed. I told him you are not losing son, you are winning and give your best even today,” Punia’s father Balwan Singh told ANI on Saturday before the match.
Haryana | 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):Wrestler Bajrang Punia's father, Balwan Singh#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/E2IQwEQgZr
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2021
