Working on my leg defence: Bajrang Punia

Bajrang Punia’s trophy cabinet got a distinct golden hue this year. The 24-year-old topped the podium at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, and also came close to repeating the feat at the World Championships.

The 65kg wrestler, however, fell one win short of winning the gold at Budapest going down to Japan’s Takuto Otoguro. The loss has made the world No. 1 focus on one area that has been troubling for some time now.

“After every big competition, I sit with my coach and trainer and analyse the chinks in my game. We see the videos of the bouts and decide which aspects to work on. After the World Championships it was the same. They have told me to focus on my leg defence. It is an area which has cost me a lot in recent times,” Punia said on the sidelines of a Pro Wrestling League (PWL) promotional event, where he is participating.

“A lot of work needs to be done to be 100 per cent efficient in my lower body tactics.”

At the World Championships, Otoguro constantly targeted Punia’s leg. At the Asian Games final against another Japanese Daichi Takatani, Punia escaped with a 10-8 result and it was his right leg that was the target.

Punia said his next target is the Asian Championship in April in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. “That is a big competition in the new year. Before that there will be the pro Wrestling League in February and it will be a good platform to experiment with the new moves before going on to bigger battles,” Punia said.

“In sport there will be losses but it is my job to ensure that the mistakes are not repeated. So, I have so much work on hand.”

NEW DELHI: