Asian Games 2023 Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat clinches bronze, Bajrang Punia faces defeat

Sonam and Kiran won bronze medals in their respective categories.

Indian star wrestler Bajrang Punia was unable to clinch the bronze medal in his recent match against Japan’s Kaiki Yamaguchi in Men’s Freestyle 65kg event at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.

Yamaguchi displayed exceptional dominance throughout the match, securing victory over the Indian wrestler with a decisive score of 10-0 via technical superiority.

Earlier in the day, Bajrang emerged victorious in his matches against Ronil Tubog from the Philippines and Alibeg Saigidgusein Alibegov from Bahrain, securing a commanding scoreline of 10-0 and 4-0, respectively. These consecutive triumphs propelled him into the semifinal round.

Regrettably, Bajrang encountered a defeat in the semifinal against Rahman Amouzadkhalili of Iran. Bajrang could only secure a single point in response to his opponent's eight points.

Other Indian men's wrestler Aman Sehrawat, who was in action, displayed an impressive performance in his bronze medal match at the Asian Games 2023. With a comprehensive score of 11-0, he emerged victorious against China's Minghu Liu, securing the third position in the Men's Freestyle 57kg event.

Aman competed against South Korea's Kim Sunggwon and Iran's Ebrahim Khari prior to advancing to the semifinal round. He emerged victorious with a score of 6-1 against the Korean athlete and 19-8 against the Iranian competitor. However, he was unable to sustain his winning streak in the semifinals and faced defeat against Japan’s Toshihiro Hasegawa on 10-12 points.

In addition to Aman, it is noteworthy that Indian female wrestlers Sonam and Kiran also showcased their skills today. Remarkably, both athletes secured bronze medals for the country.

Sonam triumphed over China's Long Jia with a score of 7-5, claiming third place in the Women's Freestyle 62Kg category. Likewise, Kiran emerged victorious in the Women's Freestyle 76kg match against Mongolia's Ariunjargal Ganbat, solidifying her position on the podium at third place.

With these wins, India’s medal tally has reached 95 including 22 gold, 34 silver and 39 bronze medals. Moreover, the Indian contingent is going to have a record breaking day tomorrow as some assured medals are going to be added to the list and move the tally beyond 100.