Wrestling
World Wrestling C'ships Day-2: Mukul Dahiya finishes 5th, Deepak Punia exits early- Highlights
Catch all the Highlights from the second day of the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Aman Sehrawat and Deepak Punia in action at the 2025 World Wrestling C'ships. (File Photo)
Indian men's freestyle wrestlers continued their quest for the World Wrestling Championships medal in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sunday.
India had disappointing news to start the day, as one of the medal favourites, Aman Sehrawat, could not compete at the championships due to illness, which prevented him from making the cut on weigh-in
In his absence, all the eyes were on Olympian Deepak Punia (92 Kg), who began his campaign with a win but failed to convert it in later stages, losing in the pre-quarterfinals to Osman of Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, Mukul Dahiya (86 Kg), who earned a repechage on Saturday, booked his spot in the bronze medal match but fell short of a medal, losing to two-time world champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran.
As it happened:
Live Updates
- 14 Sep 2025 5:27 PM GMT
A heartbreaking fifth-place finish for Mukul Dahiya in men's 86 kg
Playing against the two-time former World Champion, Mukul, could not find any answers, and faced a 0-10 technical superiority defeat to Kamran Ghasempour.
He was the only Indian wrestler to reach the medal matches at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships after the first two days of elimination rounds.
Final Score: Mukul Dahiya (IND) 0-10 Kamran Ghasempour (IRI)
- 14 Sep 2025 3:50 PM GMT
No Repechage for Deepak Punia
Osman Nurmagomedov of Azerbaijan lost to Trent Hidlay of the USA in the men's 92 Kg semi-finals, which means that Deepak Punia's last hope of a medal via repechage ended in this tournament.
The 2019 silver medalist will go empty-handed from Croatia, and India will have no medal matches tomorrow.
Now, India's medal hopes live on the shoulders of Mukul Dahiya, who will be competing in the bronze medal match later today.
- 14 Sep 2025 1:45 PM GMT
Up Next: - 86Kg - Mukul Dahiya (IND) Vs Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) at 10:30 PM IST
Mukul will take on a two-time former world champion, Kamran Ghasempour, in the bronze medal match today.
This will not be an easy task for the young Indian wrestler, who is chasing his maiden world championship medal in Croatia.
- 14 Sep 2025 1:35 PM GMT
Deepak Punia seeks Repechage, Amit & Vikash bow out
As the morning session of day 2 concludes, the disappointment continued for Indian wrestling as none of the wrestlers reached the quarterfinals.
On one hand, Amit was teched by a Puerto Rican wrestler in the first round. Vikash lost a very close bout in the final seconds of a high-scoring encounter against a Belgian wrestler on criteria by 12-12.
Meanwhile, Deepak Punia began his campaign with a win, but then he also conceded a very close defeat by 3-4 to an Azerbajan wrestler.
Although Deepak still has a chance of repechage as his opponent, Osman, reached the semi-finals of the men's 92 Kg.
- 14 Sep 2025 11:37 AM GMT
In a close affair, Deepak Punia goes down to Osman by just 1 point
Final Score: Deepak Punia (IND) 3-4 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE)
Deepak Punia found a takedown in the second half, but he conceded an exposure turn on the counterm, giving back the lead to the Azerbajani wrestler.
Deepak tried to find another take-down in the final seconds, but he could not find his grip, and Osman edged him for 1 point.
He will now depend on repechage if Osman advances to the final of the men's 92 kg.
- 14 Sep 2025 11:27 AM GMT
Deepak Punia trails by 2 points after an early take down from Osman in the first half
Half Time: Deepak Punia (IND) 0-2 Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE)
- 14 Sep 2025 11:00 AM GMT
Up Next: - Deepak Punia (IND) Vs Osman Nurmagomedov (AZE) at 4:50 PM IST
Deepak had a good opening round win, but now he will be up against three-time World Medalist Osman in the round of 16.
The 26-year-old Indian has to win this match as the upper half of the draw is very tough, and he might not get any repechage if he concedes this match.
- 14 Sep 2025 10:41 AM GMT
Deepak Punia starts his campaign with a comfortable win in the first round
Final Score: Deepak Punia (IND) 6-1 Benjamin Geril (AUT)
Deepak was too good for the Austrian wrestler, who could not find any dangerous attack against the solid defensive gameplay of Deepak.
He is the only wrestler who is still active in the competition, as Vikash and Amit lost their respective first-round bouts.
- 14 Sep 2025 10:27 AM GMT
Mukul Dahiya advances to the men's 86Kg bronze medal match
Mukul registers his second consecutive win on technical superiority to make it to the bronze medal match of men's 86 kg.
He will now take the experienced Iranian wrestler, Kamran Ghasempour, for the world championships medal at 10:30 PM IST.
Final Score: Mukul Dahiya (IND) 11-0 Ivars Samusonok (LAT) in Repechage round 2
