Deepak Punia Clinches Historic Bronze in 97-kg Wrestling
Deepak Punia secures a historic bronze in 97-kg freestyle wrestling at the Asian Games 2026, ending a 60-year wait for India in this category.
Indian wrestler Deepak Punia made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, by securing a bronze medal in the men's 97-kg freestyle wrestling category. His victory on Saturday marks a monumental milestone for Indian wrestling, as it is the first time an Indian athlete has stood on the podium in this specific weight class in 60 years.
Punia delivered a high-intensity performance to defeat Mongolia's Gankhuyag Ganbaatar with a score of 2-1. This achievement breaks a long drought dating back to the 1966 edition of the games, when Bhim Singh secured a bronze in the same category.
A Rollercoaster Day for Indian Wrestling
While Punia celebrated a historic comeback, the day saw mixed fortunes on the mat for other Indian wrestlers. In the men's freestyle 74-kg bronze medal bout, Sagar Jaglan faced a swift and difficult end to his campaign. He was pinned by Kazakhstan's Nurkozha Kaipanov, a three-time world medallist, within just 30 seconds of the match starting.
Aman Sehrawat Shines with Golden Performance
In a stunning display of resilience, Aman Sehrawat captured the gold medal in the men's freestyle 57-kg category. Facing North Korea's Chong Song Han, Sehrawat endured a dramatic final that saw the momentum swing multiple times.
The bout unfolded as follows:
- Early Defensive Play: Sehrawat started defensively, successfully neutralizing Han's aggressive attacks on his left leg to keep the score level in the opening stages.
- Taking the Lead: After receiving a passivity warning and conceding a point, Sehrawat responded with a clinical takedown. He added another superb move before the break to establish a 4-1 lead.
- The Comeback Attempt: Early in the second period, Sehrawat extended his lead to 6-1. However, Han, despite battling a knee injury, launched a massive offensive, scoring six points in rapid succession to turn the score into a 7-6 deficit.
- The Decisive Blow: With the gold slipping away, Sehrawat executed a crucial four-point maneuver—combining a takedown and a roll—to reclaim a 10-7 lead.
Sehrawat ultimately held his ground to secure the gold, marking India's second wrestling gold of the games following Sujeet Kalkal's victory on Friday.
India's Growing Medal Tally
Deepak Punia's bronze contributes to India's impressive overall performance at the ongoing Asian Games. As of Saturday, India's medal haul stands at 83 medals, consisting of:
- 20 Gold medals
- 26 Silver medals
- 37 Bronze medals
Other notable performers contributing to India's success include gold medallists Kumkum Mohod, Pranavi Urs, and the men's cricket team. Silver medals were earned by Pranavi, Aditi Ashok, and Diksha Dagar in the women's team golf event, while Neeraj Chauhan added to the bronze count in men's individual recurve archery.