Tokyo Olympics: India’s Deepak Punia loses in 86kg freestyle wrestling semifinal

Indian wrestler Deepak Punia on Wednesday lost to David Taylor of the USA in the men’s 86kg freestyle semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics. Punia will now fight for the bronze medal.

It was always going to be a herculean task for Deepak to trouble the American, the 2018 world champion and the reigning Pan-American champion.

It was hardly a contest as Taylor effected one move after another to win by technical superiority in the first period itself.

The 22-year-old Indian could make only one move on counter attack but the American did not give Punia any chance to convert that into points.

Earlier in the competition, Punia had made the most of an easy draw by getting past Nigeria’s Ekerekeme Agiomor, the African championship bronze medallist by technical superiority and then prevailed 6-3 against China’s Zushen Lin in the quarterfinal.

MyGovIndia took to Twitter to wish him good luck for his fight  for bronze and wrote, “It’s the efforts that count and yours were on point!!

Deepak Punia loses in the semi-finals against USA’s David Taylor in men’s freestyle wrestling 86kg but will play for BRONZE tomorrow!

Let’s continue to cheer for him, let’s continue to #Cheer4India!” 

Lovlina Borgohain clinched a bronze medal on Wednesday as she was defeated by world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the women’s welterweight semi-final. Neeraj Chopra booked his spot in the men’s javelin throw final with his first attempt throw of 86.65m, which was enough to land him in the finals.