India’s Bajrang Punia qualifies for semi-finals of 65 Kg free-style wrestling in Tokyo Olympics
India’s Bajrang Punia played well against Iran’s Morteza Cheka Ghaisi to secure a semi-final spot men’s freestyle 65kg event. By winning this contest, he went one step ahead in winning the Olympic medal for India on Friday. This is his first Olympics, so winning an Olympic medal will even be special.
Iranian wrestler Morteza Cheka Ghaisi was leading India’s Bajrang Punia for most of the contest. He was seen severely crippled by Morteza Cheka Ghaisi defensive tactics, especially the body blocks. India’s Bajrang Punia was put on the activity clock twice and also defend his right leg when Ghaisi got hold of it.
As the game moved to the final minute of the second period Ghaisi was looking to make a dangerous move. He got hold of India’s Bajrang right leg and pulled a takedown. India’s wrestler Bajrang Punia showed some brilliance at the moment he wriggled out his clutch and got the neck of his opponent Ghaisi pushed him at the mat and held him with immense strength. In the end, he emerged victorious by his fall.
India’s wrestler is qualified for the semi-final of 65Kg freestyle wrestling in the Tokyo Olympics. He will opponent Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliev in the gold medal bout. Bajrang Punia opponent is a three-time world champion and bronze-winner from Rio Games.
Before this bout, a timely takedown move helped him beat Kyrgyztan’s Ernazar Akmataliev in his opening bout.
At the end of the first period India’s Bajrang Punia was in the lead of 3-1 but her opponent Akmataliev came close in the second round as he was getting two-push points to level the scores. Since India’s Bajrang Punia made the high-scoring move, a two-pointer takedown he was declared the winner.
It was not the kind of play that India’s Bajrang Punia was known for, but it was enough to secure a win for him. Earlier in this Olympic game, he suffered a minor knee injury while playing in the Russian local tournament.