On Wednesday, Deepak Punia becomes India’s first junior world Champion in 18 years. He defeated his opponent Russia’s Alik Shebzukhov at the Junior Worlds in Tallinn, Estonia.
The score was 2-2 at the end of the 86 kg men’s freestyle bout but Deepak Punia was announced champion because he had scored the last point.
Back in 2001, Ramesh Kumar and Palwinder Singh were the last Indians to claim gold medals at Junior Championship.
Before prevailing over Shebzukhov, Punia, who also won a gold at 2016 Cadet World Championship, comfortably defeated Milan Korcsog of Hungary 10-1 in his opening bout.
He then defeated Hunter Lee of Canada 5-1.
In the semi-final Georgia’s Miriani Maisuradze 3-2, Punia trailed 1-2 but with just over a minute left he scored two points by pushing his opponent twice to emerge a 3-2 winner.
Punia will also represent India at the upcoming World Championship in Kazakhstan, having won the trials.
In the 92 kgs, Vicky edged out Mongolia’s Batmagnai Eenkhtuvshin 4-3 to claim a bronze.
Source: Times of India
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