Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s biggest medal hope in wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics Bajrang Punia lost freestyle 65kg semi final bout against Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev on Friday. The No 2 seed lost his bout 5-12 to reigning Olympic medalist & three time World Champion Haji Aliyev. There was a huge expectation on the Indian wrestler but as it turned out, it was Aliyev who dominated the proceedings maintaining his lead right from the start.
The first quarter saw Bajrang trailing 1-4 against Aliyev. It was expected the Indian gappler to fight back but Aliyev extended his lead to 8-1. Bajrang did manage to get two points but the wrestler from Azerbaijan got a crucial point to make it 9-3. Punia managed to win two points to reduce the margin to 5-9. But the three times world champion pulled off the match with his experience, winning the second quarter 12-5. Bajrang will now will face Russia’s Gadzhimurad Rashidov for bronze medal on Saturday.
Earlier in the day Bajrang Punia stormed into semis (FS 65kg) with an emphatic win over Iranian grappler Morteza Ghiasi.