India's star wrestlers Aman Sehrawat and Bajrang Punia had contrasting outings in their respective bronze medal matches in the Asian Games 2023. Aman Sehrawat produced a power-packed show to clinch coveted bronze in the men's freestyle 57 kg category after downing China's Minghu Liu.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia, despite his previous achievements, lost to Japan’s Kaiki Yamaguchi via technical superiority (10-0) in another bronze medal match.
Aman outclassed Minghu with a dominant 11-0 victory, achieved by technical superiority. So far, India's wrestling team has bagged five medals in Hangzhou, all bronze, with notable achievements coming from Sunil Kumar, Antim Panghal, Kiran, and Sonam Malik.
Aman's match was a showcase of skill and agility. He started aggressively, securing an early takedown. Liu seemed taken aback as Aman swiftly followed it up with another takedown. The Chinese opponent was given a passivity warning, struggling to score even as Aman maintained a solid defense. Aman's subsequent takedown further stunned Liu, emphasizing India's dominance in the bout. With a strategic move, Aman forced his adversary out of bounds, ensuring a spot on the podium.
On the other hand, Punia's journey had its share of hurdles. After securing a 10-0 victory against Ronil Tubog from the Philippines, he sailed through the quarterfinals, defeating Bahrain's Alibeg Alibegov 4-0. But in the semifinals, he faced a challenging opponent in Iranian Rahman Amouzadkhalili, succumbing to an 0-8 defeat.
In a subsequent match, Punia, who was a favorite to clinch a medal, suffered a disappointing 10-0 loss against Japan's Kaiki Yamaguchi. This unexpected turn of events in the bronze medal match highlighted the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Beyond the mat, Punia has been in the spotlight for various reasons. Recently, he was part of a protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India Chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Additionally, his selection for the Asian Games, despite missing the trials, raised several eyebrows.
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