2019 World Wrestling Championships
2019 World Wrestling Championships: Deepak Punia settles for silver after missing final
Deepak is said to have picked up an injury on his left leg and eye in his first-round fight which renders him unable to compete in the final of the men’s freestyle 86kg event.
Ace wrestler Deepak Punia, who was in line to make it a hat-trick of gold medals, has been now forced to pull out of the World Wrestling Championships title clash due to injuries and will have to settle for a silver medal instead. Deepak is said to have picked up an injury on his left leg and eye in his first-round fight which renders him unable to compete in the final of the men’s freestyle 86kg event against Hasan Yazdanichara of Iran, scheduled for Sunday.
Deepak, a Junior World Championships gold medallist, has achieved several milestones on way to entering the final. Interestingly, he became the youngest Indian to ever reach the final of a World Championship. Besides, he confirmed a berth at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and assured himself of at least a silver medal.
Deepak told Sportstar from Nur-Sultan,
“My leg is swollen up and it is hurting. The eye is swollen too, but it happens in wrestling. I picked up both injuries during the first round. I am not fighting in the final.
Deepak justified the favourite’s tag with a stupendous campaign at the World Championships that saw him beat some of the biggest names in the discipline. His stellar form ensured that India will return from the World Championships event with its best-ever medal haul as the country is now assured of four medals.
India has put up a fine display of grit and determination with four wrestlers winning medals and as many Olympic quota berths so far. While it was a shower of bronze medals for men wrestlers like Bajrang Punia in the 65kg weight category and Ravi Kumar Dahiya in the 57kg weight category, Vinesh Phogat lived up to her vintage self by becoming the only Indian woman grappler to win a medal as she bagged bronze in the 53kg category. The latest in the discipline is Deepak Punia who has won a silver medal at the World Championships, the best result produced by an Indian wrestler at this year’s Worlds.
