Wrestler Deepak Punia 4th Indian to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

Indian wrestler Deepak Punia booked himself a seat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after reaching the fight for senior world title in the 86kg category in Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) on Saturday (September 21).

Competing in his maiden senior world championship, the reigning junior world champion proceeded to the finale with a commanding 8-2 win over Switzerland’s Stefan Reichmuth.

Deepak has shown steady progress since he won the World Cadet title in 2016 and became junior world champion only last month in Estonia.

The 20-year old has ensured that India will return from the World Championship with its best-ever performance as the country is now assured of four medals.

other wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya have already won a bronze medal each, qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics as well.

Another medal could be added to India’s tally if Rahul Aware wins the bronze on Sunday’s (September 22) bout in the 61kg non-Olympic category. In 2013, India had returned with three medals.

Also read: Bajrang swells World Championships tally with third medal, Ravi grabs first

Deepak’s iconic all-round ability of defence, attack, stamina and awareness on the mat played a major role in his performance.

Meanwhile, Jitender and Mausam Khatri lost their bouts in 79kg quarterfinals and 97kg first round respectively to Mausam Khatri and reigning Olympic champion Kyle Frederick Snyder, crashing out of the championship since their opponents failed to reach the finals.

There was no action in the first period of the semifinal with Deepak gaining a 1-0 lead on activity clock.

In the second period, Deepak pushed out Reichmuth and took the Swiss down for a 4-0 lead. He lost two points but another takedown and expose move clinched it for Deepak.

The 20-year-old Deepak, who trains at Chhatrasal stadium in Delhi, had booked the quota after prevailing 7-6 in a tense semifinal against Colombia’s Carlos Arturo Mendez. With one minute to go, he was trailing 3-6 but pulled off a takedown and then an expose move to take 7-6 lead in the dying moments of the tense bout.

Also doing a commendable job was Aware who reached the bronze medal round in the 61kg non-Olympic category after reaching the semifinals. Both Deepak and Rahul overcame rough Kazakh wrestlers en route the semifinals.

Also read: Bajrang, Ravi qualify for Tokyo Olympics by reaching World C’ship semis

Aware lost a pacy semifinal 6-10 to Beka Lomtadze of Georgia, the European championship silver medallist. The Indian fell behind 1-8 after Lomtadze dominated the first period with his quick moves and solid defence.

However, the Georgian began to tire after the break and Aware reduced the deficit with a push out and two consecutive take-downs.

With just 21 seconds left in the bout and still trailing 6-8, Aware needed a big throw but it was Lomtadze who earned two points to seal his place in the final.

Deepak had bumped into home wrestler Adilet Davlumbayev in his opening round and looked a bit nervous before the bout, probably fearing partiality.

However, he played very smartly to defeat the home favourite despite trailing 0-5.

Adlilet was playing rough and was cautioned for poking Deepak. Consecutive takedown moves and a caution point brought Deepak on even terms 5-5.

The Indian converted an opportunity but also conceded a throw and it was 7-7. The home camp challenged the call and lost.

Deepak got one more point while the Kazakh lost one, sending the Indian to the next round.

He was hardly troubled by Tajikistan’s Bakhodur Kodirov, whom he beat 6-0 to move to quarterfinals.

Also read: Phogat wins bronze at World Wrestling Championship, Dhanda ousted

In 61kg, Aware played his pre-quarterfinal against Turkmenistan’s Kerim Hojakov.

The diminutive but agile wrestler from Maharashtra was in complete control of the bout, which he ended with leg lace moves, winning by technical superiority.

Against Kazakhstan’s Rassul Kaliyev, it was a very tough bout but the Indian proved craftier than his rough opponent and won 10-7 in a roller-coaster quarterfinal bout. He was technically more sound and sharp. Jitender began with an easy 7-2 win over Molodova’s Gheorghi Pascalov.

In the pre-quarterfinals, he was up against Turkey’s Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu, the European Championship bronze medallist and again his immense upper body strength helped him to a 7-2 win. However, he could not find a way to break the solid defence of Slovakia’s Taimuraz Salkazanov and lost 0-4.

In 97kg, Mausam Khatri was no match to his American opponent. The Indian lost by technical superiority.

(With inputs from agencies)