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Bajrang Punia is an Indian wrestler who competes in the 65 kg category. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won a bronze medal when he defeated Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov with an 8-0 margin. He is also the only Indian wrestler to win 4 medals at the World Wrestling Championships. Read this blog to learn more about Bajrang Punia’s biography and achievements.
Table of Contents
Biography of Bajrang Punia
Below is an overview table of Bajrang Punia:
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Bajrang Punia |
| Date of Birth | February 26, 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Khudan, Jhajjar, Haryana, India |
| Weight Class | 65 kg (men’s freestyle) |
| Height | Approximately 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) |
| Coach | Shako Bentinidis (Georgian coach) |
| Career Highlights | Gold Medal, 2018 World Wrestling Championships (Budapest) |
| Gold Medal, 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta) | |
| Silver Medal, 2019 World Wrestling Championships (Nursultan) | |
| Bronze Medal, 2020 Tokyo Olympics (men’s freestyle 65 kg) | |
| Gold Medal, 2021 U23 World Wrestling Championships | |
| Achievements | First Indian wrestler to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships in 2018 |
| Highly ranked and consistently performs well in international wrestling circuits | |
| Affiliation | Haryana Police (as an employee) |
| Personal Life | Married to Sangeeta Phogat, a fellow wrestler and the daughter of Mahavir Phogat |
| Training Base | He works primarily at the SAI (Sports Authority of India) and trains under the guidance of his coach, Shako Bentinidis |
Early Life and Education of Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia was born in Khundan Village, Jhajjar District of Haryana, on February 26, 1994, to a family with a wrestling background.
- Balwan Singh, his father was a wrestler, which significantly impacted his life.
- Bajrang started wrestling when he was seven years old. His family supported him in his wrestling career despite their limited financial means. He trained at a nearby akhada.
- He moved to Delhi in 2008 and started his training at the Chhatrasal Stadium under his coach, Ramphal Mann.
- He moved to Sonepat in 2015 to help him attend the regional centre of the Sports Authority of India.
- He was introduced to Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, who became his mentor and regular sparring partner.
- Bajrang’s debut in international wrestling came in 2013 when he won a bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships
- Currently, he works for the Indian Railways in the post of Gazetted Officer, Sports
Also read: Leander Paes: Biography, Contribution and Titles
Medal Won By Bajrang Punia
The table below shows the medals won by Bajrang Punia:
| Year | Event | Achievement | Category |
| 2013 | Asian Wrestling Championships | Bronze Medal | 60 kg freestyle |
| 2014 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2015 | World Wrestling Championships | Bronze Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2016 | Rio Olympics | Bronze Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2017 | Asian Wrestling Championships | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2018 | World Wrestling Championships | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2018 | Asian Games | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2019 | World Wrestling Championships | Silver Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2020 | Tokyo Olympics | Bronze Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2021 | U23 World Wrestling Championships | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2021 | Poland Open | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2022 | World Wrestling Championships | Bronze Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
| 2023 | Asian Wrestling Championships | Gold Medal | 65 kg freestyle |
Awards Won by Bajrang Punia
Here is a table of the awards that were won by Bajrang Punia:
| Awards | Year |
| Arjuna Award | 2015 |
| Padma Shri Award | 2019 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award | 2019 |
| FICCI India Sports Award | 2020 |
Also read: Milkha Singh: Biography, Achievements & More
Bajrang Punia and Paris Olympics 2024
Here is a table about Bajrang Punia’s Exclusion from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Although he failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the reason being he lost in the semifinals of the men’s 65kg category at the national wrestling trials.
- As a result of which, he will be unable to compete in the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament or World Olympic Qualification Tournament
- This complex situation is also due to the ongoing dispute between the Wrestling Federation of India and the Indian Olympic Association.
FAQs
Bajrang Punia’s most notable achievement is winning a gold medal at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in the 65 kg freestyle category.
Bajrang Punia won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s freestyle 65 kg category.
Bajrang Punia failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics due to a loss in the semifinals of the national wrestling trials.
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