This Asian Games, despite India winning 100 medals, will be remembered for our less-than-ordinary performance in wrestling, where we failed to get a gold medal. Although the likes of Aman Sehrawat, Antim Panghal, and three others did get the bronze medals, the top prize remained elusive. But the biggest blow came when the defending champion Bajrang Punia did not even land a medal.
The 65kg category wrestler, who spent months at Jantar Mantar, could not withstand the might of Iranian and Japanese wrestlers and lost by technical superiority to both. This was after he was sent to the Asian Games without any trials. Vishal Kaliraman, the wrestler who had won all his bouts at the trials was not sent.
As expected, after his humiliating loss, the unrelenting Indian fans made their views known on social media.
Injustice to Vishal Kaliraman
Epic Bajrang Punia Loss
It is interesting that Bajrang Punia, along with Vinesh Phogat had refused to participate in any trials, and said they would go to the Olympics too, without facing any wrestlers locally. He had in fact challenged Vishal Kaliraman, that he would face him once the Asian Games were over.
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