India's Bajrang Punia wins QF bout to reach SF, one win away from Olympic medal
Bajrang Punia will face defending Olympic medalist and three-time world champion Haji Aliyev in the semi-finals. This match will start at 2.50 pm Indian time.
Star wrestler Bajrang Punia, India's biggest hope in the Tokyo Olympics, has reached the next round of 65 kg weight category. Bajrang Punia started his campaign with a win against Ernazar Akmatalaiev of Kazakhstan in Quarter Finals. Bajrang Punia will face defending Olympic medalist and three-time world champion Haji Aliyev in the semi-finals.
This match will start at 2.50 pm Indian time.
The match was tied at 3-3 but Bajrang won on technical grounds. Bajrang had won the first period 3-1. In the second period, Bajrang tried to make a bet by holding Akmataliev's leg, but missed the second leg as the hand was not in hand. Even till the last 30 seconds, Bajrang was ahead in the second period, but Akmataliev suddenly took an aggressive approach by collecting 1-1 points twice. In the end, Bajrang was declared the winner on technical grounds for making a bigger bet.
Bajrang is just one step away from the medal. After this match, the gold hopes of the whole country have become stronger.
Earlier, this star wrestler of India had made it to the quarter-finals by defeating Arnazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan.
#IND @BajrangPunia makes a winning start to his #Olympics campaign as he beats Ernazar Akmatalaiev of #KGZ Winning by Points
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 6, 2021
With this Bajrang advances to quarterfinal
Watch him Live in QF at 9:17 AM (IST)#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/2uc2RAHQ1n