In his first Olympic Games, Bajrang Punia earned a bronze medal. The 27-year-old wrestler says the Tokyo 2020 Games have taught him a lot. On Sunday, Bajrang will walk out with the Indian flag at the Games’ closing ceremony.
Key Summary
- Bajrang Punia will walk out with the Indian flag at the Games’ closing ceremony.
- The 27-year-old Haryana wrestler won a bronze medal in his maiden Olympics.
- Bajrang will continue to compete in the 65kg division and that he will prepare for the World Championships in Oslo, Norway, which will take place from October 2 to 10.
- For Paris 2024, he will competition in the same weight class as Bajang Punia in Tokyo 2020.
- The Indian government rewards INR 6 crs to Neeraj Chopra and INR 2.5 crs for Baj rang Punia for winning the Bronze medal in the Wrestling.
When Bajrang Punia walks out with the Indian flag during the closing ceremony of Tokyo 2020 on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, he will be a proud man. The 27-year-old Haryana wrestler won a bronze medal in his maiden Olympics, but he admitted that he learned a lot at the Summer Games.
“For the first time, I understood what true pressure was like… not only the weight of a billion well wishes, but how each contender is trying everything they can to win an Olympic medal. There are a few things that my coach and I need to work on together “In a press conference on Sunday, Bajrang said.
Grit has always been the middle name of India’s greatest matmen. Bajrang demonstrated this ahead of his 65 kg freestyle bronze medal match against Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov. He came out wearing his knee protector and removing the pain-relieving tapes.
“I told the doctor I didn’t feel at ease in them. ‘Let me get hurt again; I don’t give a damn.’ ‘I’d like to have the bronze…’ The doctor, fortunately, concurred. Tapes and kneecaps clog up my legs. I was at liberty to fight “Bajrang Punia stated.
The road to Tokyo 2020 has been difficult for Bajrang. A knee injury suffered in a tournament in Russia just weeks before the Games was a shock.
“For about 25 days, I was unable to undertake mat training. Following the injury, I was unable to run as well. Even skipping one day of preparation before an event like the Olympics is not good “Bajrang remarked.
Bajrang Punia expresses his gratitude to the embassy in Moscow for assisting him in training and recovering from his injuries in Russia. He had no intention of returning to India during the second COVID wave.
“I’m glad that all of your hard work paid off. The Olympics were a huge challenge for me, but I was determined to return with a medal no matter what “he stated
Bajrang stated that he will continue to compete in the 65kg division and that he will prepare for the World Championships in Oslo, Norway, which will take place from October 2 to 10. For Paris 2024, he will compete in the same weight class.
Meanwhile, Bajrang will enjoy the festivities and, of course, his mother Om Pyari’s ‘Choorma’ whenever he returns home.
Bajrang dedicated his award to the COVID fighters of India.
