Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia defeated Iran’s Morteza Ghiasi Cheka to reach the semifinal of the men’s 65kg freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He will face Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Aliev is a three-time world champion and a bronze medal winner from the Rio Games.

In the 1/8 final (pre-quarters), the Indian grappler defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Ernazar Akmataliev 3-1. 

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Hailing from Haryana, Punia, 27, is currently ranked No 1 in the 65 kg weight category. He is the only Indian wrestler to have won three medals at the World Wrestling Championship. Punia has won 17 medals so far. However, he is yet to finish on the podium at the Olympics. 

World Championships

Silver medal – second place 2018 Budapest 65 kg

Bronze medal – third place 2013 Budapest 60 kg

Bronze medal – third place 2019 Nur-Sultan 65 kg

Asian Games

Gold medal – first place 2018 Jakarta 65 kg

Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon 61 kg

Commonwealth Games

Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 65 kg

Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow 61 kg

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Asian Championships

Gold medal – first place 2017 New Delhi 65 kg

Gold medal – first place 2019 Xi’an 65 kg

Silver medal – second place 2021 Almaty 65 kg

Silver medal – second place 2020 New Delhi 65 kg

Silver medal – second place 2014 Astana 61 kg

Bronze medal – third place 2013 New Delhi 60 kg

Bronze medal – third place 2018 Bishkek 65 kg

World U23 Championships

Silver medal – second place 2017 Bydgoszcz 65kg

Commonwealth Championship

Gold medal – first place 2017 Brakpan 65 kg

Gold medal – first place 2016 Singapore[1] 65 kg

Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

Gold medal – first place 2017 Ashgabat 70 kg