Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated Bajrang Punia on winning Bronze medal on his debut Olympics for the country.
Well done!
Congratulations #BajrangPunia on securing the #Bronze medal, on his debut Olympics, for #TeamIndia at #Tokyo2020 with a comprehensive victory in men’s freestyle 65kg #wrestling. Wish him all the best for future. #Cheer4India
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 7, 2021
Bajrang Punia won the bronze medal in men’s freestyle 65kg, beating Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan 8-0 on points for his first medal at the Olympics.
Bajrang, who had lost to Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan in the semifinals on Friday, came up with a tactical bout as he took early lead in the first period and capitalised with counterattacks when his Kazakh rival, a two-time medallist at the World Championships, went on the attack.
Bajrang’s bronze medal took India’s tally in the Tokyo Olympics to six medals — two silver and four bronze. India thus tied for its best medal haul in the Olympics at 2012 London when they won two silver and four bronze.