Gold still a step too far for Punia
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Asian Games champ and Ravi Dahiya book Tokyo tickets but lose in semis; to fight for bronze
NUR-SULTAN (KAZAKHSTAN): Bajrang Punia lost his semi-final bout against home wrestler Daulet Niyazbekov under controversial circumstances after he secured his place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics along with debutant Ravi Dahiya at the World Wrestling Championships here on Thursday.
Bajrang’s frustrated coach Shako Banitidis kicked the coach’s block in anger, protesting the partisan officiating during the 65kg bout, which ended 9-9 after a nerve-wracking six minutes.
Since Niyazbekov was given a bigger throw of four points in the bout, he was the declared winner.
In the controversial bout, the referee gave ample time to tiring Niyazbekov to catch his breath and was not given warning at least thrice.
Instead, the home wrestler was awarded four points when they should have gone to Bajrang for effecting that throw at the edge of the circle.
“I challenged i t and t hey should have given at least two points to Bajrang for that hold,” said coach Benitidis.
Several times, Bajrang raised his hands in frustration but to no avail.
The last edition’s silver medallist Indian will now have to fight for the bronze medal on Friday.
RAVI TOO QUALIFIES
Ravi Dahiya, who felled a few stars on his way to the semi-finals, also lost his last four bout 4-6 to reigning world champion Zaur Uguev from Russia and will fight for the bronze as well on Friday.
Ravi also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 57kg category after stunning Arsen Harutunyan, the 61kg European champion from Armenia, and 2017 world champion and world No 3 Yuki Takahashi of Japan.
Making full use of an easy 65kg draw, Bajrang steamrolled one opponent after another earlier in the day to reach the semifinals.
Bajrang did not have to work much in going past Poland’s Krzysztof Bienkowski in the opening round. He easily beat his opponent 9-2.
Bajrang’s next opponent was David Habat who did not bother the Indian much though the Slovenian twice had his right leg in his clutches.
The first chance was in the first period from ground position and then in standing position after the break.
The Slovenian, surprisingly, could not exploit the advantageous position.
In the quarter-finals against South Korean Jong Choi Son, Bajrang lost a point for stepping out but won the bout comfortably 8-1 after that.
In an incredible debut, Ravi Dahiya won the first two bouts by technical superiority in the 57kg class.
In a remarkable turnaround, he erased a six-point deficit to log 17 points in a row with his counter-attack to shock Arsen Harutunyan, the 61kg European champion from Armenia.
What was impressive about Ravi was that despite trailing 0-6, he kept his cool and stayed in the bout and eventually found a way to tear apart the defence of the Armenian.
BIT OF DRAMA
T h e r e wa s a b i t o f d r a ma towards the end when Armenia challenged the bout-finishing point.
After much delay and watching replays, Ravi was declared the winner.
Ravi’s first victim was South Korea’s Sunggwon Kim.
In the quarter-finals against Yuki Takahashi, one of the toughest to beat in 57kg, Ravi showed tremendous composure to eke out a 6-1 win.
The Indian did not let the formidable Japanese play his game as he restricted his famous swift movements.
WOMEN’S COMPETITION In women’s competition, there was no end to the woes of Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who lost her opening round 7-10 to Nigeria’s Aminat Adeniyi.
Sakshi waited too long to attack while her powerful opponent moved quickly.
Sakshi is out of the world championships since the Nigerian later lost her quarter-final bout.
In the 68kg category bout, Divya Kakran could not do much against reigning Olympic champion Sara Dosho from Japan, losing the bout 0-2.
Dosho later lost her quarterfinal bout, closing repechage doors on Divya.