Bajrang Punia ties the knot with fellow wrestler Sangeeta Phogat
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia married Sangeeta Phogat in a low-key ceremony in Phogat’s village in Haryana.
Tokyo-bound Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia got married to fellow grappler Sangeeta Phogat in a quiet ceremony in Balali village, Haryana on Wednesday.
“Today, I have chosen my life partner and it feels like I have gained another family. I am starting a new chapter in my life and I am both happy and excited for the journey ahead. Thank you for your love and wishes,” Bajrang Punia wrote on Instagram.
The Punia family held a pre-wedding celebration at home in Sonepat, Haryana on Tuesday. They have also planned a big reception for more than 200 people which includes high-profile guests, including sportspersons and politicians, on Friday.
The 26-year-old Punia and 22-year-old Sangeeta first met at a wrestlers’ training camp in Sonepat, Haryana, and hit it off thereafter.
Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat had initially planned to marry after the Tokyo Olympics this year. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Games to be delayed by a year and the couple decided to tie the knot before the end of 2020.
Sangeeta Phogat is the youngest sister of wrestling siblings Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat and MMA star Ritu Phogat while Rio 2016 Olympian Vinesh Phogat is her cousin.
Incidentally, all of Sangeeta Phogat’s siblings, except Ritu Phogat, are married to fellow wrestlers.
Eldest sister Geeta Phogat is married to wrestler Pawan Kumar while Babita Phogat’s husband is grappler Vivek Suhag and Vinesh Phogat has tied the knot with wrestler Somvir Rathee.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia will likely be one of the four Indian wrestlers to grapple at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Punia, currently ranked world No. 2 in the 65kg category, is tipped as one of the favourites to bring home an Olympic medal next year and has been putting in the hard yards with Georgian coach Shako Bendinitis since August.