Almaty, April 17: Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya retained his Asian Championship title with a solid performance but Bajrang Punia settled for a silver medal after withdrawing from the much-awaited final against Takuto Otoguro due to an elbow injury, here on Saturday.
Bajrang told PTI that he did not want to aggravate the condition of his right elbow. He said he started feeling the pain during the quarterfinal against Korean Yongseok Jeong.
Also finishing on podium were Narsingh Pancham Yadav (79kg), Karan (70kg) and Satywart Kadian (97kg), who won a bronze each, as all five Indians in action on Saturday returned with medals.
It was Yadav’s first international medal in five years as he last won it in July 2015 at Grand Prix of Spain. He served a four-year doping ban which he completed only recently. Yadav beat Iraq’s Ahmed Mohsin Kadhim 8-2 comfortably in the bronze play off.
Bajrang did not face much competition en route the final. He had lost the 2018 World Championship title clash and last year’s Asian Championship final to the Otoguro and could have tested himself against the Japanese but it turned out to be an anti-climactic end to the 65kg competition.
Ravi Dahiya, though, gave India the first free style gold medal of this edition with a commanding show. His supreme stamina and relentless attacking prowess was too good for his opponents in the 57kg.
His title clash against Iran’s Alireza Nosratolah Sarlak was expected to be a tight one but Ravi only got better and better as the fast-paced final progressed. There were attacks from both the wrestlers but Ravi was clearly the superior one on the mat with his quick moves as he won 9-4.
Karan bagged the 70kg bronze medal after winning 3-1 against Korea’s Seungbong Lee. He got into medal round through the repechage route. Kadiyan faced Iran’s Ali Khalil Shabanibengar and lost the 97kg semifinal by technical superiority in mere 25 seconds. (PTI)
