Bronze heartbreak for India’s Deepak Punia in Tokyo Olympics wrestling
The Indian wrestler lost the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal bout in the 86kg freestyle category 4-2 to San Marino’s Myles Amine.
India’s Deepak Punia let his lead slip in the final seconds to lose the Tokyo 2020 Olympics men’s 86kg freestyle wrestling bronze medal match against San Marino’s Myles Amine on Thursday.
Deepak Punia, a former junior world champion and a senior world championships silver medallist, lost the match 4-2 at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba.
On Wednesday, the Indian wrestler beat Nigeria’s Ekerekeme Agiomor in the round of 16 and China’s Lin Zushen in the quarter-finals. However, a defeat at the hands of USA’s David Taylor in the semi-finals saw Deepak Punia enter the bronze medal match.
Deepak Punia’s opponent for the medal match, Myles Amine, 24, defeated Belarus’ Ali Shabanau 2-0 in the repechage round to earn his medal shot.
The two young wrestlers spent the first minute-and-a-half looking for openings and it was the Indian who struck first with a two-point takedown. Amine responded with a point just before the break to cut Deepak’s advantage.
Amine kept attacking Deepak Punia in the second period but the Indian kept his opponent at bay with a tight defence. However, the relentless nature of the San Marino grappler was visibly tiring Deepak out.
With Deepak seemingly out of gas, Amine struck in the final seconds as he turned the table with a quick ankle lock and converted it into three points. Deepak Punia let his lead slip and lost the match 4-2.