Tokyo 2020, wrestling: Bajrang Punia storms into SF with comeback win, Seema Bisla out in 1st round

Bajrang Punia put his tactical acumen and strength to good use in the second period to pin Iran’s Morteza Cheka Ghiasi for a semifinal berth in the men’s free-style 65kg event which took him closer to a medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Punia trailed the Iranian for a major part of the bout after being severely crippled by Ghiasi’s defensive tactics, especially the body-locks. Twice the Indian was put on activity clock and also left to defend his right leg when Ghiasi got hold of it.

As the second period moved towards the final minute, Ghiasi looked like making a dangerous move when he got hold of Punia’s right leg and almost pulled off a take down.

But the Indian not only wriggled out of that clutch, he locked the neck of Ghiasi and moved into a position from where he turned his rival, pushed him on the mat and held him with his immense strength to emerge victorious by fall.

He will now fight it out with Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliev for a place in the gold medal bout. Aliev is three-time world champion and bronze-winner from the Rio Games.

Before this bout, a timely take-down move helped him beat Kyrgyzstan’s Ernazar Akmataliev in his opening bout.

At the end…

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