Wrestler Bajrang Punia wins India’s first gold medal at 2018 Asian Games

Wrestler Bajrang Punia (24) won India’s first gold medal at the 18th edition of the Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the men’s freestyle 65 kg final event, he defeated Japan’s Takatani Daichi by 11-8 score. It was Bajrang’s maiden gold medal and overall second medal in Asian Games after he had earlier won silver medal in 2014 Asian Games (Incheon, South Korea) in the men’s freestyle 61 kg category.

Bajrang Punia

Bajrang is a freestyle wrestler from India. He hails from Haryana. At present, he is India’s fastest, most powerful and focussed grappler. He works as Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with Indian Railway. Ahead of 2018 Asian Games, he had won three consecutive international gold medals – Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast), Tbilisi Grand Prix (Georgia) and Yasar Dogu International (Istanbul). In 2013, he had won bronze medal (third place) in World Championships held Budapest (Hungary) in 60 kg freestyle category.
Note: Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar were first Indian athletes to win medals in 2018 Asian Games. Both had won bronze medal in mixed team rifle shooting event.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2018