Ali Aliyev: One of the medal hopes in wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics, Bajrang Punia has injured his right knee and withdrew from the Ali Aliyev meet semifinals in Russia on Friday. Bajrang was scheduled to face the local favourite Abdulmazhid Kudiev.
However, his Georgian coach Shako Bentinidis informed that the injury is not very serious and Bajrang will be back on the mat within 10 days. The Haryana wrestler will undergo few scans in the coming days. Bajrang will be competing in the men’s freestyle 65kg category.
Bajrang was 0-4 down to Kudiev and cried in pain before forfeiting from the bout holding his right knee. He also struggled to get up. The referee stopped the bout immediately and called the physio, who took Bajrang off the mat.
With just 28 days to go until the Tokyo Olympics, Bajrang is seeded No. 2 in the 65kg category, which will certainly affect his plans. “I know it got everybody worried. I am not a doctor, but whatever I have seen in so many years of coaching, I feel he will be fine in 7-10 days,” the coach was quoted as saying to TOI.
Bajrang has been training in Russia after he decided to skip Poland Open and participate in the Ali Aliyev meet.
