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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.
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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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