Exclusive: I focused on medal despite injury, says Bajrang Punia

Bajrang received a rousing welcome from his family and locals outside his residence in Sonipat. He spoke to Etv Bharat about his injury that cost him the semi-final bout and his plans ahead.

Sonipat: Wrestler Bajrang Punia played with leg injury which cost him the match in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics. However, one of India's best bets, Punia, grabbed the elusive Olympic bronze through repechage in the men's freestyle 65kg category.

Bajrang defeated Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov by 8-0 in the bronze medal match. In the match between Punia and Niyazbekov, the former went on to take 2-0 lead in the first period and all the pressure was on the Kazakh opponent heading into the last three minutes.

In the final three minutes, Bajrang managed to hold his own and he kept his opponent at bay walking away with a bronze medal.

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Bajrang had created history.

He received a rousing welcome from his family and locals outside his residence in Sonipat. In the video, he spoke to Etv Bharat about his injury and his plans ahead.