Tokyo 2020: Bajrang Punia wins India’s sixth medal in Tokyo with a bronze

The Indian wrestler was unstoppable in a one-sided bout as he eased past Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0.

Bajrang Punia (Credits- Twitter/SAI Media)
By Karthik Raman | Aug 7, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Bajrang Punia was at his ruthless best on Saturday as he outclassed Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan to register a comfortable 8-0 win in the bronze medal match to get India’s sixth Olympic medal in Tokyo. With this medal, India has now equaled their best ever medal tally of six which they managed in the 2012 London Games. This is also India’s second wrestling medal in Tokyo. Earlier, Ravi Kumar Dahiya had secured a silver for the country. After a disappointing 2016 Rio Olympics, the Indian contingent has responded in some style to substantially increase their medal tally from five years ago.

Earlier on Saturday, both wrestlers started cautiously, trying to get a grip of the bout before Punia pushed Daulet to the edge of the circle. They went back into the typical lock and with one minute gone, no points were won yet. Then, Daulat pushed Punia to the edge of the circle but the Indian quickly turned and evaded the danger. The 27-year-old Indian then got the first point. He then started going forward and sent Daulet out as he led 2-0 with the first period coming to an end.

Explosive second period

In the second period, Daulet, who needed to quickly close down the deficit, started producing a great defensive display as he prevented Bajrang from working from the back. Taking a defensive approach, Daulet was depending on the counter, but Bajrang pinned him down with a brilliant move as he took a 4-0 lead. With one minute to go, Punia applied pressure to the leg and then rolled Daulet, and pinned him for two more points. In no time, he got another two points to take a staggering 8-0 lead, which proved too much for the Kazakhstan wrestler to make a comeback in the dying seconds.

Notably, Bajrang Punia is only the sixth Indian wrestler after KD Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Kumar to finish on the Olympic podium. Sushil and Ravi are the only two to win silver medals, while the rest managed bronze. It is also the fourth Olympics in a row in which Indian wrestlers have won at least one medal. From 2008 to 2020 Tokyo Games, no other sport from the country has contributed to India’s Olympic medal haul more than wrestling.

Indian wrestlers have won six Olympic medals starting from Beijing. Sushil started it with a bronze in the 2008 Games and upgraded it to silver in 2012 London, while Yogeshwar Dutt clinched a bronze in 2012 and Sakshi Malik bagged a bronze in Rio 2016. Now, Ravi Kumar Dahiya has joined that illustrious club, winning a silver in Tokyo. On Saturday, Bajrang gave India its second wrestling medal at Tokyo Games. Earlier in 1952, Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav had won a bronze, which was India’s first wrestling medal. Since the beginning of the Summer Games, Indian wrestlers have won a total of seven Olympic medals.