Wrestler Deepak Punia gets rousing reception at native village

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, August 21

Though wrestler Deepak Punia could not win a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, residents of his native Chhara village here accorded him a hero’s welcome on Saturday.

Youths danced to dhol beats and chanted ‘Deepak Zindabad’ as the wrestler was brought to the village in an open car. Elated locals also garlanded him and said he had brought laurels to the village by winning a million hearts by his brilliant performance in his maiden Olympics appearance.

Deepak had lost the bronze medal to San Marino’s Myles Nazem Amine in the 86 kg category by a whisker.

“It was the result of love, motivation and support from the people of my country that I could reach close to the bronze medal. I’ll make all efforts to win a medal in Paris. Due to injuries, I am taking rest these days. My next target is to win gold in the Commonwealth Games scheduled next year,” Deepak said while talking to the media.

His coach Virendra Arya said Deepak could not bring a medal from Tokyo but had gained a lot of experience, which would help him in coming events. “He is a talented wrestler and will definitely bring medal for the nation.”