India didn’t have to wait long to win its first gold medal of the Asian Games 2018. On the opening day of the event, Bajrang Punia defeated Japan’s Daichi Takatani 11-8 in the men’s 65 kg freestyle wrestling title bout.
Displaying superb technique throughout the competition, Bajrang, in the final, raced to a 6-0 lead. Daichi fought back and made the contest tense in the final few minutes. But the Indian held on to get the gold for his country.
With the much celebrated Sushil Kumar and Sandeep Tomar bowing out early, the Indian wrestling contingent’s wait for a medal extended. But Bajrang’s win at the fag end of the Games’ first day, brought cheer to the country on Sunday.
From the Prime Minister to athletes across various sports – including his mentor Yogeshwar Dutt – tributes poured in on Twitter.
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