Deepak Punia (wrestler)

Deepak Punia
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (1999-05-19) 19 May 1999 (age 25)
Chhara, Jhajjar district, Haryana, India[1][2]
Military career
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Rank Naib Subedar
Unit19 RAJ RIF
Sport
CountryIndia
SportFreestyle wrestling
Event86 kg

Deepak Punia, is an Indian freestyle wrestler supported by OGQ and Naib Subedar in the Indian Army. He won a silver medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships in the freestyle 86 kg category, where Hassan Yazdani of Iran, a wrestler that Punia idolises, won the final by walkover.[3] Punia's silver medal did, however, secure him a place in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[4] The Indian wrestler, born in Jhajjar district, Haryana, got another chance to go against Yazdani in the wrestling competition at the 2022 Asian Games – in the Men's freestyle 86 kg final. But Yazdani beat Punia 10-0 in a one-sided match.[5]

Punia is the reigning Commonwealth champion in his weight category. He bagged a gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after beating Pakistan's Muhammad Inam by a score of 3-0 in the 86kg final bout.[3][6][7]

  1. ^ Kumar, Amit (28 August 2019). "I talk to Bajrang Punia when I need advice, says junior world champion Deepak Punia". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Wrestler Deepak Punia becomes junior World champion — More sports News". The Times of India. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "CWG 2022: Deepak Punia Wins Gold in Men's 86 Kg Category in Birmingham". News18 India. 5 August 2022.
  4. ^ "World Championships: Deepak Punia 4th Indian wrestler to bag 2020 Olympics quota". India Today. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Who is Deepak Punia? Know the Indian wrestler". Olympics.com. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. ^ Nalwala, Ali Asgar (7 October 2023). "Asian Games 2023 wrestling: Deepak Punia wins silver medal in Hangzhou". Olympics.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.