Tokyo Games 2020: Bronze not enough for Bajrang Punia

Chiba (Japan), August 7

He did not live up to the sky-high expectations but India’s Bajrang Punia will return from Tokyo with a bronze medal on Olympics debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men’s freestyle 65kg playoff here today.

If his defence let him down in the semifinal against Hazi Aliev, Bajrang’s smart attacking moves made him an 8-0 winner against Kazakhstan’s Niyazbekov, to whom he had lost in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championships.

“I am not happy. Winning an Olympics medal is no mean achievement but I can’t jump with joy with bronze,” Bajrang said. — PTI