Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, August 6

The defeat of wrestler Bajrang Punia in the semifinal bout at the Tokyo Olympics came as a shocker to his family members as they were confident of his victory.

“Bajrang played well, but his opponent held his injured leg to score points in the bout. He suffered injuries a month ago when he was in Russia. We are a little bit disappointed, but defeat and victory are part of the game, hence we are now looking for the bronze medal bout. Bajrang will definitely win an Olympic medal,” said the wrestlers’ father, Balwan Punia, talking to the media.

He said Bajrang had toiled hard for the Olympics, but unfortunately lost today, while his two earlier bouts were marvellous. “The blessings of all Indians are with Bajrang and I am sure he will emerge victorious in the bronze medal bout.”

Bajrang belongs to Khuddan village, but his family shifted to Sonepat a few years ago when he was undergoing technical training in wrestling. He did not have any interest in studies that drove him towards “akhara” at his village in 2001 where he learnt the basics of wrestling and emerged the “Best child wrestler” of the region within a short span of time by winning several competitions held in various districts.