Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia dedicated his silver medal from the World Championships to the victims of the Amritsar train accident on Tuesday, 23 October. The 24-year-old finished second in the 65 kg category after losing to Takuto Otoguro of Japan in the final on Monday.
Only the fourth Indian ever to make it to the World Championships gold medal match, Bajrang was rattled by the 19-year old Otoguro, who consistently attacked the left leg of Indian and emerged a comfortable 16-9 winner.
It was so near and yet so far. Having reached the final, I expected to win gold but I will have to be satisfied with a silver medal. I am happy to have bettered my bronze medal effort, achieved five years ago at the same venue.Bajrang Punia
Bajrang is now the only Indian with two medals from the World Championships, having won a bronze in 2013 edition. The Haryana wrestler, who is a prodigy of Yogeshwar Dutt, has won four golds this year including two at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Sushil Kumar, one of the country’s greatest wrestlers ever, is the lone Indian to win a gold medal at the World Championships, achieving the feat in 2010 in Moscow in the 66kg category.
Apart from Sushil, Amit Dahiya (2013) and Bishambar Singh (1967) are the 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 men's free style wrestlers to win a medal at the World Championships.
Among female grapplers, only Babita Phogat (bronze, 2012), Geeta Phogat (2012), Alka Tomar (bronze, 2006) are the medal winners at World Championships.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)