Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Bajrang Punia defeats Iran's Mortaza Ghiasi Cheka by fall, enters semi-finals

World No. 2 seed Bajrang Punia is declared the winner by fall against Iran's Mortaza Ghiasi Cheka in the quarter-final bout. Bajrang defeated Morteza by pinning him down to the mat (victory by fall) in the 1/4 Final.

Ghiasi had a hold on Bajrang's 'injured' knee, but the Indian did even better to defend. Punia did look uncomfortable, but then made a stunning takedown and pinned his opponent. 

Bajrang will now face the reigning Olympics medalist Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev in the last four. 

BAJRANG ADVANCES TO SEMIFINAL!!#IND @BajrangPunia advances to the semifinal of Men’s freestyle 65 Kg by winning by fall against #IRI Morteza Cheka Ghiasi

Watch this space for updates on #Olympics #Tokyo2020#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/Kzi5xPknbl

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) August 6, 2021

Earlier, Bajrang Punia won against Ernaaz Akmataliev and progressed to the quarter-finals at Makuhari Messe Hall A.

The score was 0-0 at the start of the first bout but the Kyrgyzstani wrestler was given a passivity charge but he could not, and that was 1-0 for Bajrang.

Ernaaz however, pushed Bajrang out of bounds and made it 1-1. Right at the dying seconds of round 1, Bajrang took Ernaaz down superbly and lead 3-1.

The second round saw Ernaaz charge at Punia and push him out of the mat twice to make the score 3-3 with 7.9 seconds left. However, Bajrang still won because of his two-point move.

Earlier today Indian wrestler Seema Bisla lost to Tunisia's Sarra Hamdi in the Women's Freestyle 50kg, 1/8 Final, on Friday. Tunisia's Sarra Hamdi edged Seema 3-1 to cruise into the quarter-finals. 

Earlier on Thursday, Ravi Dahiya settled for silver after going down against the Russian Olympic Committee`s (ROC) Zavur Uguev in the men's 57 kg freestyle category at the Tokyo Olympics.