Bajrang falls at final hurdle

Budapest, October 22 

Bajrang Punia’s bid to become only the second Indian to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships fell flat as Japan’s Takuto Otoguro stunned the Indian in the 65kg final here on Monday.  Only the fourth Indian ever to make it to the World Championships gold medal match, the 24-year-old Bajrang was rattled by the 19-year old Otoguro, who consistently attacked his left leg and won the bout comfortably at 16-9. In the process, Otoguru became Japan’s youngest world champion. The legendary Yuji Takada, who won gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, had become the youngest world champion from Japan at the age of 20 in 1974.   

Bright start by Otoguro 

A four-point throw gave Otoguro an early 5-0 lead, leaving Bajrang to play the catch-up game. With back-to-back takedowns, the Indian reduced the deficit to 4-5. The Japanese got more points with a step out, and led 7-6 at the break.

A takedown at the start of the second period gave Otoguro a 9-6 lead. The Japanese kept attacking Bajrang’s left leg, a strategy the Indian struggled to counter. The Commonwealth and the Asian Games gold medallist Bajrang eventually had to settle for a silver, which is his second medal at the Worlds. He had won a bronze in the 2013 edition.

Sushil Kumar, the country’s greatest wrestler ever, is the lone Indian to win a gold medal at the Worlds; he achieved the feat in 2010 in Moscow in the 66kg category. Apart from Sushil and Bajrang, Amit Dahiya (2013) and Bishambar Singh (1967) are the two other Indians to make it to the World Championships final in men’s free style. Udey Chand (bronze, 1961), Ramesh Kumar (bronze, 2009), Narsingh Yadav (2015) are the other medallists at the World Championships. Among female grapplers, only Babita Phogat (bronze, 2012), Geeta Phogat (2012), Alka Tomar (bronze, 2006) have won medals at the Worlds. 

Others disappoint 

Meanwhile, in the men’s free style 70kg category, Praveen Rana won his first bout against Jarvis Sadam Blesam Tarkong by technical superiority but went down to Uzbekistan’s Ikhtiyor Navruzov in the pre-quarterfinals.

In the 97kg category, Mausam Khatri was knocked out by Venezuela’s Jose Daniel Diaz Robertti 2-12 in the qualification round.

In women’s event, Sarita won her bouts in the 59kg against Korea’s Bobae Kim (8-1) and Ukraine’s Sofiia Bodnar (4-0) but lost the quarterfinal to Shoovdor Baatarjavrjav. In the 55kg category, Seema could not win even one bout; she lost to Mongolia’s Davaachimeg Erkhembayar by technical superiority in the first round. — PTI

Bajrang is the first Indian wrestler to win two medals at the World Championships. Besides the silver in the current edition, he had won a bronze in 2013. 

Bajrang this year 

• Won gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 
• Gold at the Jakarta Asian Games
• Silver at the World Championships