Deepak Eyes Int'l Career Relaunch With Asian C'ships Qualification

BETWEEN August and September 2019, wrestler Deepak Punia's stock hit the roof.

- FIROZ MIRZA

The then 20-year-old from Haryana became the country's first wrestler in 18 years to win junior world title. He then went on to bag silver next month in the senior Worlds to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

Termed as one for the future, Deepak, however, fell off the radar with not-so-impressive returns in the years since. The biggest setback was his loss in the dying seconds against a San Marino wrestler in the 86kg bronze medal bout at the Tokyo Olympics. He did win medals at the continental championships and other international events apart from gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games but like other numerous wrestlers from the country, Deepak too was caught in crossfire when the sport hit the nadir with the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, being accused of sexual harassment. The controversy took its toll on Indian wrestlers and Deepak was no different. The immediate loss was his failure to qualify for the Paris Games.