Bajrang Punia overcomes semifinal loss, clinches bronze medal in Wrestling World Championships

After a disappointing loss in the semifinal, Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia clinched the bronze medal at the Wrestling World Championships on Friday.

Punia defeated Tulga Tumur Ochir of Mongolia 8-7 during the men’s 65 kg bout in Nursultan, Kazhakstan.

This is Punia's 3rd World Championship medal. He had already secured a place in Tokyo Olympic Quota after his impressive 8-1 win over North Korea's Jong Son in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Bajrang wins bronze

Our #TOPSAthlete wrestler @BajrangPunia wins the bronze medal in the men’s 65 kg following an 8-7 win over Tulga Tumur Ochir after trailing 2-6.

This is his 3rd world C’ship medal.
e had already clinched an #OlympicQuota.@RijijuOffice pic.twitter.com/bpXoTzl9vO

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) September 20, 2019

India's ace grappler then lost to Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in the semi-finals, in a decision by umpires termed controversial by many. Both were locked at 9-9 at the end of the bout and Niyazbekov was declared a winner by the umpires.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) wrote to United World Wrestling (UWW) following the defeat of the top-seeded Punia.

"We sent only a request to review the bout and in a reply, Friday morning the chairman of Officiation Commission realised that some decisions were incorrect and assured that special attention will be given to Indian bouts," a WFI source was quoted as saying by ANI.